JOINED ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER FOR MEMORIAL DAY EVENT/WILL VISIT WOUNDED TROOPS AT U.S. HOSPITAL IN GERMANY

Washington, May 30, 2007 - Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-Ocala), Deputy Ranking Republican Member of the House Veterans Affairs' Committee, is participating in a Memorial Delegation to honor fallen service members buried in American military cemeteries in France, Luxembourg, and Italy.  "It is vital that we honor the sacrifice of the men and women of our armed forces who lost their lives in defense of our freedoms," stated Stearns.  "Many of our fallen troops are now buried overseas, near the battlefields where they lost their lives, and I am committed to remembering and honoring their gallant service."

The Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jim Nicholson joins Stearns and other members of Congress for the events.  On Saturday, May 26th, the delegation honored  the Americans who flew for France in the Lafayette Escadrille during World War I.  Sunday, May 27, the delegation participated in a wreath laying ceremony at the Rhone American Cemetery and Memorial in Draguigan, France.  On Memorial Day, Stearns and other members met with Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi for a ceremony at the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery in Nettuno, Italy. 

Wednesday, May 30th, the delegation honored more than 4,400 Americans buried at the Florence American Cemetery and Memorial in Florence, Italy.  Thursday, May 31st, the delegation will pay respects to those buried in the Luxembourg American Cemetery and Memorial.  The delegation will ends its Memorial week on May 31st visiting injured troops at the Landstuhl Army Medical Center, Landstuhl, Germany.