Ehrlich on Washington column, May 31, 1999

NEWS FROM Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. Second Congressional District of Maryland 1 407 York Road, Suite 304 Lutherville, Maryland 21093 315 Cannon House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 EHRLICH ON WASHINGTON Week of May 31, 1999 By Congressman Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. REMEMBERING OUR HEROES, HONORING OUR VETERANS A few weeks ago, I had the honor of assisting Major General Dennis Jackson in the award ceremony of the Silver Star to World War II veteran Mr. Lucian Lucas of Towson. Mr. Lucas, truly one of America’s heroes, received the Silver Star for gallantry in action while securing Germany’s Merode Castle which was vital to seizing the west bank of the Ruhr River. After receiving the award, he gratefully dedicated his Silver Star as a memorial to all his men who did not return from that battle. This Memorial Day gave me the occasion to further realize the significance of this award and of the holiday. I hope you enjoyed the Memorial Day Weekend, as I certainly did. At the same time, I hope you took a moment to reflect. Memorial Day was created after the Civil War to remember the more than 600,000 Americans, from both the North and South, who paid the ultimate sacrifice. Originally known as Decoration Day, Memorial Day was a time when folks would travel to cemeteries and decorate the graves of Civil War casualties. Over the years, as America fought more wars, and as more American men and women lost their lives, this special day has become a time to honor all those who fought and died in service to the United States of America. Today, especially, it is important to keep in mind that Memorial Day is much more than a long