Speaker of The House Opposes Frank Buckles to lay in State in Nation’s Capitol

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Veterans United in Support of Frank Buckles to Lie in State at US Capitol

It is not everyday that the last remaining soldier of any war dies.  We consider that the last remaining soldier represents all veterans of that war, World War 1, and that the honor to Lie in State in the Nation’s Capitol is a just cause!

The one person that seems opposed to this is the Speaker of the House!  Shame on him!  The speaker of the House’s office in DC should be flooded with emails, phone calls, and faxes from every veteran organization and every veteran.  It seems that is the only thing we can do to make the Speaker of the House hear the veterans loud and clear!  Calls were placed today to find out for sure what the road block was and it has been discovered this is the road block!  Now get on the phones, faxes, and emails time for the veterans to be heard.  Frank Buckles as a representative of the last WW1 veteran deserves no less!

Any last survivor of war deserves this honor not as an individual but as a representative!  He had accepted this duty as his family had and those are the wishes of him and his family and we should all support and make this happen!

Please make the time to call, email, and fax the SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OFFICE NOW!  Let them hear from you NOW!

Here is Senator Rockfeller’s Statement:

Rockefeller Statement on Frank Buckles

Washington, D.C. – Senator Jay Rockefeller today joined West Virginians, veterans, and people across the nation in remembering Frank Woodruff Buckles, the nation’s oldest surviving WWI veteran, who died Sunday.

“Frank Buckles was a unique American, a wonderfully plain-spoken man and an icon for the World War I generation. His life was full and varied and an inspiration for his unbridled patriotism and enthusiasm for life. It has been my privilege to call Frank Buckles a friend and fellow West Virginian,” Rockefeller said.  “Today, we honor him – for his courage to join the war, for his continuous dedication to this great country and for the history and legacy he has left us with.  My thoughts and prayers go out to his daughter Susannah, his family and all of his friends and neighbors near his beloved Gap View Farm in West Virginia. Mr. Buckles fought for our nation’s freedom, and continued to fight to make sure that he and the more than 4.3 million Americans who served in the first Great War are honored with a fitting tribute through a national memorial – and that is a fight that I will continue.”

Mr. Buckles was a resident of Charles Town, W.Va., and was the longest living American war veteran of World War I.  He was born in Harrison County, MO in 1901 and was only 16 years old at the time America entered World War I.  Mr. Buckles was determined to help his country fight this war and joined the Army after unsuccessful attempts to join the Marines and the Navy.  Upon completion of his training in Fort Riley, KS, Mr. Buckles joined the Army Ambulance Service and went overseas to England then France.  He later became an escort for German prisoners of war.  Mr. Buckles was presented with the French Legion of Honor in 1999 at the French Embassy in Washington, D.C.

update:

March 4, 2011

Rockefeller Urges Boehner to Reconsider His Refusal to Allow Frank Buckles Ceremony in Capitol

Washington, D.C. – Senator Jay Rockefeller today strongly urged Speaker John Boehner to reconsider his decision to block legislation that would have allowed Frank Buckles to lie in honor in the U.S. Capitol.  The decision came today, shortly after Rockefeller had been working to expedite a ceremony paying tribute to Mr. Buckles in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda before his internment at Arlington National Cemetery.  Mr. Buckles, a Charles Town resident and the nation’s oldest surviving World War I veteran, passed away on Sunday at the age of 110.

“This is a big disappointment and a surprising decision by the Speaker,” said Rockefeller.  “My resolution is simple.  It would have provided a fitting tribute to Frank Buckles – the nation’s last Doughboy.  Surely, Speaker Boehner can agree that the Congress should pause for a moment to pay its respects to Mr. Buckles and all our World War I veterans.  When you honor one veteran, you honor them all.  I hope that the Speaker will reconsider his refusal to honor Mr. Buckles in this way.”

Rockefeller added, “Though the final living American link to the Great War has now departed, we must not forget these soldiers’ sacrifices and what they fought for – to protect this country.  I intend to continue working to create a World War I Memorial in Washington as it was a cause that Mr. Buckles and I worked closely together on for many years, and I am determined to make it a reality.  I am working with the Army, Senate leadership, Arlington National Cemetery, and Mr. Buckles’ family, to guarantee that Mr. Buckles receives the memorial service and honors that he deserves.  His life, which spanned more than a century, is certainly one worth celebrating.”

Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito introduced similar legislation in the House.

On February 28, President Obama issued a proclamation ordering that, “As a mark of respect for the memory of Army Corporal Frank W. Buckles, the last surviving American veteran of World War I, and in remembrance of the generation of American veterans of World War I,” American flags be flown at half-staff on the day of Mr. Buckles’ burial.

Mr. Buckles was the longest living American war veteran of World War I.  He was born in Harrison County, MO in 1901 and was only 16 years old at the time America entered World War I.  Mr. Buckles was determined to help his country fight this war and joined the Army after unsuccessful attempts to join the Marines and the Navy.  Upon completion of his training in Fort Riley, KS, Mr. Buckles joined the Army Ambulance Service and went overseas to England then France.  He later became an escort for German prisoners of war.  Mr. Buckles was presented with the French Legion of Honor in 1999 at the French Embassy in Washington, D.C.

Background:

On February 1, Rockefeller reintroduced bipartisan legislation, which Mr. Buckles strongly advocated for, to prepare for the upcoming centennial of World War I by rededicating the District of Columbia War Memorial as the District of Columbia and National World War I Memorial.  The bill would also rededicate the Liberty Memorial in Kansas City as the National World War I Museum and Memorial to honor the sacrifices made by American veterans of World War I.  Rockefeller helped introduce similar legislation in 2009 and joined Mr. Buckles in December of 2009 at a hearing of the Senate Committee on Energy & National Resources Subcommittee on National Parks to speak up for this legislation. Lastly, the bill creates a commission to plan a World War I centennial celebration.

On Armistice Day in 1931, President Hoover dedicated the DC War Memorial to honor the 499 District of Columbia residents who gave their lives during World War I serving our country. Since then, national monuments commemorating the sacrifice and heroism of those who served in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam have all been built on the National Mall. Yet still, no national monument has been created to honor those who served in World War I.

Senator Rockefeller also introduced a bipartisan bill to re-dedicate the DC memorial as the DC-National WWI memorial, dedicate the Liberty Memorial of Kansas City as the National WWI Museum and Memorial, and establish a commission to plan the centennial celebration of World War I.

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Washington, D.C.U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) released the following statement after Speaker John Boehner refused to allow the country’s last World War I veteran, Frank Buckles, to be honored by lying in state in the U.S. Capitol.

“It is unconscionable that Speaker Boehner would deny this honor to the last living American veteran of World War I,” Senator Manchin said. “Frank Buckles was the standard-bearer of a great cause, and spent the last years of his long life fighting to make sure that our country pays proper tribute to all World War I veterans. Now it is our turn to fight to make sure our country honors him – and all the World War I veterans for whom he fought – with the highest degree of respect.

“I urge Speaker Boehner to reconsider this ill-advised decision.”

Senator Manchin joined Senator Jay Rockefeller, who led the West Virginia delegation in sponsoring a measure to honor Buckles by lying in state in the Capitol Rotunda.

Legislation:  Is your US Senator Signed on?  IS Your US representative signed ON?
  

 

 

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