Voice of America Rally Part 3

Transcription (Scripto)

Read Full Text Only (TXT)

Extent (Dublin Core)

18 Minutes, 38 Seconds

File Name (Dublin Core)

c031_074

Title (Dublin Core)

Voice of America Rally Part 3

Description (Dublin Core)

In this “Voice of America” rally segment, government officials give their final remarks of the night, the Singing Sergeants sing pieces of each military branch’s song, and there is a final benediction.

Date (Dublin Core)

1970-05-01

Date Created (Dublin Core)

1970-05-01

Congress (Dublin Core)

91st (1969-1971)

Topics (Dublin Core)

See all items with this value Vietnam War, 1961-1975

Policy Area (Curation)

Armed Forces and National Security

Creator (Dublin Core)

Dole, Robert J., 1923-2021

Record Type (Dublin Core)

radio programs

Names (Dublin Core)

See all items with this value Schadeberg, Henry C. (Henry Carl), 1913-1985

See all items with this value Perot, Ross, 1930-2019

Rights (Dublin Core)

http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/

Language (Dublin Core)

eng

Collection Finding Aid (Dublin Core)

https://dolearchivecollections.ku.edu/index.php?p=collections/findingaid&id=84&q=

Physical Collection (Dublin Core)

Collection 031, Box 2

Institution (Dublin Core)

Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS

Archival Collection (Dublin Core)

Dole Audio Reels Collection, 1960-1979

Full Text (Extract Text)

Unnamed man:
(inaudible)
Spokesman in our society say that the true heroes of this generation are those Americans who have fled to Canada or Sweden to sit out the war. Well, they're not our heroes.
(applause)
Our heroes are serving as soldiers. They are prisoners of war, and men who have been separated from their units and yet who continue to serve proudly as soldiers. They are the men to whom our prayers go out every night. They are the young men of this generation who are constantly on the mind of this administration. My remarks are brief tonight, they are not partisan, and this is certainly not a forum where any American can be partisan. I will only say that every decision that our President makes is made in the belief that it can diminish the death and suffering in Southeast Asia, that it can bring closer the day of peace when all your sons and husbands and brothers and- can be home again. I believe that deeply, and I ask you to believe it as well. God bless you, goodnight.

(applause)
(inaudible speaking)

(Music)

Dole:
I have just one or two other things and then we have a final musical tribute. First, it would be impossible, of course, for any one person or any 10 persons or any 20 persons to do what we think we've started. There are a couple of fellows who have worked tirelessly. One is Bob Raybine. Bob, would you step out just so we know who you are?
(applause)
Another man we bothered almost daily, hourly, is Colonel Al Goodson. Al? Where's Al? There he is.
(applause
And we've had great cooperation from staff members on the staff, Congressman Daniel, who also was here, Congressman McKneally, Congresswoman May, Congressman Roudebush, Congressman Sikes, Congressman Teague, Senator Stennis, Senator Mansfield, Senator Murphy, Senator Goldwater, Senator Dominick, and Senator Muskie. We have another very outstanding American who I want to introduce. You may have recognized the name as he escorted the president. But another one of our great space heroes came all the way from Texas this afternoon to be here, to pay tribute to the gallant men who are missing in action or prisoners of war, and I wonder if Bill Andrew just might walk up so they can see you again. Bill?
(applause
I think Mr. Perot said he had one brief word to say before. Go ahead.

Perot:
It may be a long time before I have an opportunity to talk to this many families again, and there are two things I want to say. I've had many opportunities to visit with you. I've talked to mothers with tears in their eyes, and I can take that. I've talked to wives who became upset emotionally, and I can take that. We've got some men here in the audience that are very much like the men I run into when I'm in Asia. When I land at a military base in Vietnam or near Vietnam, men just like your husbands and sons, walk up to me. Some of them have just climbed out of their jets after a mission, covered with sweat, their flight suits still on. And when they break up, I can't take that.
(applause)
I wanted to tell you that story because there's a special bond of friendship between these men that take this great risk for our country. I consider these men the best of the best. And not many of you have had an opportunity to have that experience, and I just wanted you to know how closely your husband's friends feel about them. And in closing, I'd like to say that when your husband's return, and your son's return, they've got to be awfully proud of you for the rest of their lives for what you did for them. Thank you.

(Applause)

Dole:
We're highly privileged to have the Singing Sergeants under the direction of Captain Robert Kuzminski at this time.

Singing Sergeants:
(music – “The Army Goes Rolling Along”)
First to fight for the right
And to build the Nation's might,
And the Army goes rolling along.
Proud of all we have done,
Fighting till the battle's won,
And the Army goes rolling along.
Then it's hi! Hi! Hey!
For the Army's on its way.
Count off the cadence loud and strong,
For where’er you go,
You will always know
That the Army goes rolling along.
(music – “Anchors Aweigh”)
(applause)
Anchors aweigh, my boys, anchors aweigh.
Farewell to college joys, we sail at break of day.
Through our last night ashore, drink to the foam,
Until we meet once more:
Here's wishing you a happy voyage home.
(music – “Marines’ Hymn”)
(applause)
From the halls of Montezuma
to the shores of Tripoli;
We will fight our country’s battles
In the air, on land, and sea;
First to fight for right and freedom
And to keep our honor clean;
We are proud to claim the title
Of United States Marines.
(music – “Semper Paratus”)
(applause)
So here's the Coast Guard marching song,
We sing on land or sea.
Through surf and storm and howling gale,
High shall our purpose be.
‘Semper Paratus’ is our guide,
Our fame, our glory, too.
To fight to save or fight to die!
Aye Coast Guard, we are for you!
(music – “Air Force Song”)
(applause)
Off we go into the wild blue yonder,
Climbing high into the sun;
Here they come, zooming to meet our thunder,
At them boys, give ’er the gun (give ’er the gun!).
Down we dive, spouting our flame from under
Off with one helluva roar!
We live in fame or go down in flame, hey!
Nothing will stop the U.S. Air Force.
(applause)
(music – “America the Beautiful”)
O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!
O beautiful for heroes proved
In liberating strife,
Who more than self their country love
And mercy more than life!
America! America!
May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness.
And every gain divine!
America! America! America!
(applause)

Dole:
Thank you very much. I think before the benediction, which will be rendered by Congressman Henry Schadeberg from the great state of Wisconsin, a former captain in the US Navy Chaplain Corps, I should read a telegram I received this afternoon from Secretary of Defense Melvin Laird. “All members of Department of Defense joined me in congratulating you and the members of your Committee for Organizing tonight's appeal for international justice for our prisoners of war, and men who are missing in action. Your tireless and unselfish efforts to focus the spotlight of worldwide public attention on the sad plight of these gallant men is sincerely appreciated. I again pledge that we will not abandon these brave men, or will we let down thousands of relatives who have waited so long for the return of their loved ones. I can assure you that this administration will not rest until our men held prisoner are released, and the fullest possible accounting is given by the enemy for those missing. Melvin Laird, Secretary of Defense, Department of Defense.”

(applause)

(cut)

Dole:
You say to those who came in buses, there'll be buses available outside to take you back to the Rayburn Building or to your hotel, or wherever. I mean, I know you're scattered everywhere. Let me again thank you for coming. Let me again thank you on behalf of the Senate House Committee. Let me again express my hope that this may be the beginning, or maybe the continuation, or maybe a new effort. But above all, may it be a meaningful tribute to your brave husbands and your brave sons and your brave fathers. Or brothers. And let me say, on behalf of everyone in the Congress, that we will do what we can, that we will be heard, and that we appreciate more than you know your presence here this evening. Congressman Schadeberg.

Schadeberg:
May I remind you that the President has asked that we Americans set aside Sunday May 3rd as a day of prayer. May I also suggest to you that our God is not a local God. He's not just the God of Washington, D.C., or of our own hometowns. He's a God of the Earth. He's a God over all the universe and he is with our loved ones wherever they are, even as he is with us. And so, when we pause in prayer in his presence, we are, in a very real sense, in the presence of those who are separated from us by miles, but not by our love or by our spirit. And so, when we pray tonight, we pray not only for them, but we pray with them. Let us pray.
God of our fathers. Our God and our Father. We ask that thou wouldst dismiss us with thy blessing. Thou hast called us not to a life of ease, free of pain and sorrow, but to a life of service. Of ourselves, we are helpless to bear our burdens. But with thee, all things are possible. Oh, God, give us the strength to meet the tasks of each new day. Give us the courage to make our witness in what we believe to be thy will. Give us the patience in suffering to know that life in the flesh is not the sum and substance of our being. Give us comfort in our sorrow. But above all, O God, give us the determination and the wisdom and the will to use wisely to the extent of our capacities that strength, moral, spiritual, and physical, to bring justice and peace and freedom upon this Earth. This Earth, to which thou hast entrusted to our care. May we rededicate ourselves to serve the cause of the dignity of man whom thou hast created in thy image. The Lord bless us and keep us. May He cause His face to shine upon us and be gracious unto us. May He lift the light of His countenance upon us and give us the peace that passes all understanding. The peace that comes to those who put themselves in the hands of his love. God of the far-flung battle line, be with us yet. Be with us yet. Lest we forget. Lest we forget. Amen.

Dole:
Goodnight. Thank you.

(applause)

Voice of America Rally Part 3

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