Senator KENNEDY. Congressman Gray, Senator
Powell, Speaker Powell, Senator Douglas, Otto Kerner, the next Governor,
ladies and gentlemen, I have served in the Congress for 14 years, and during
a good percentage of that time I served on the Veterans' Committee of the
Senate, so I have some understanding of the importance of this hospital,
the services it performs, the assistance it renders to those Americans
who have need of a hand from the Government, Americans who helped this
country maintain its freedom. So I am delighted to be here today. I believe
that this hospital and hospitals like it must continue to grow to meet
the needs of our population, and also that this country must grow. All
of us who are here today, who are veterans of World War I or World War
II, or the Spanish-American War, must also recognize that our obligations
and our service to our country were not passed by military service in time
of war. We also must serve our country in time of peace. We must insist
that the United States make those hard decisions which go with being secure,
with maintaining our freedom, with maintaining our strength, with maintaining
our position in the world. I think the veterans of the United States having
made their contribution in their youth to the survival of this country,
can, at a later date, in other days, facing different dangers, make a contribution
again. So I am delighted to come here today. I appreciate very much your
coming outside and saying "hello," and I want to assure you that we share
the same hope, not only for this State, but also for the country. Thank
you. [Applause.]