Angus S. King Jr.

Madam President, I want to rise to also congratulate my colleague on a truly remarkable achievement that reflects her character and dedication to the people of this country.

I have to tell a very short story. She and I were together at a presentation once in Maine, sitting next to one another, and I got my report of how many times I had voted that session. It was 99.2. And I very proudly turned to Senator Collins and said:

Look: 99.2.

Her response was:

You'll never catch me.

And what she has achieved by this record is really remarkable. Our State is not one where the weather is always favorable and it is always easy to get here. And to have maneuvered through bad storms, snowstorms, nor'easters, and to be here for every single vote since the first day she set foot in this Chamber is a truly remarkable achievement. And I want to add my voice to those that have congratulated her and recognized her tonight for this.

Thank you. Thank you, Senator Collins.

(Applause, Senators rising.)

Mr. President, I speak today to recognize the powerful and inspiring remarks delivered by Judge Stacey D. Neumann of the U.S. District Court of Maine at a recent naturalization ceremony in Portland. Her words capture the profound significance of becoming an American citizen and the role immigrants continue to play in shaping our country.

I ask unanimous consent that her remarks be printed in the Congressional Record.

Mr. President, today I wish to take a few minutes to remember and celebrate the life of John Henry Cashwell III, one of my oldest friends and a great friend to Maine.

John passed away on November 24, 2025, leaving behind a legacy of love for his family, for our country, for the communities where he lived and served, and also for our great forests.

All who knew John will remember him for his thick New England accent, his unyielding candor, his brilliant and at times irreverent sense of humor, and a warmth of heart that made him an instant friend to all, especially the disadvantaged and those in need of a little extra encouragement and confidence.

John loved his daughters Morgan and Mollie, and he raised them as the proverbial ``acorns that didn't fall far from the tree.'' Each is a strong, virtuous, and independent-minded woman who is not afraid to do hard things and to put their shoulders to worthy causes. I know this firsthand because Morgan served as my legislative director and helped me through some tough moments, most especially the ``Christmas Miracle'' that saved our lobster industry from death by regulation several years ago.

He loved his grandchildren and made sure they knew it. As a father and grandfather, he instilled in his family laughter, belonging, and the belief that they could do anything they put their mind to.

John was a devoted husband to his wife of 42 years, Julie Norton. John demonstrated his determination and unique power of persuasion by asking his future father-in-law for Julie's hand while taking him on a helicopter ride. Looking out the window at 1,500 feet, Julie's father felt that a positive response to John's request was prudent. John and Julie made their first home in Calais, ME, in a house they built in a blueberry field and where their daughters were born. John and Julie were devoted to each other and their daughters and filled their home life with adventure, friends, and a respect and awe for the wonders of nature.

John was a patriot to his country. He served as an Army helicopter pilot during two tours of Vietnam delivering provisions and ammunition wherever they were needed, evacuating wounded soldiers, and eventually commanding the air as a gunship pilot with the call sign ``Stingray 56.'' John's service was fearless and heroic. He courageously logged 1,800 combat hours in his second tour of duty, earning him two silver stars, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Army Soldier's Medal, a Bronze Star, the National Defense Service Medal, 44 Air Medals, a Purple Heart, and the Army Good Conduct Medal. John was and will always be remembered with gratitude by the many who owe their lives and posterity to him.

John was a civil servant who cared for the people and places in which he lived. He served on the city council and eventually mayor of Calais, where he worked tirelessly to improve the quality of the community and quality of life of its citizens. John befriended those he served and made them lifelong friends. After moving to Bangor, John became a member of the city council and soon chaired that council, where he helped make performing arts, entertainment, and the Bangor waterfront more vibrant and available to all.

To those who knew him professionally, John was always the champion of the forest. John received his forestry degree in 1979 and used it for the ensuing 46 years to steward the forests of Maine. Using his piloting skills, John fought fire, fertilized trees, protected forest health, restocked rivers with salmon, and ensured our forests were managed sustainably for future generations. John served as director of the Maine Forest Service, where he led the drafting and passage of the Maine Forest Practices Act and modernized the State's fire control air fleet. He later led the Seven Island Lands Company and BBC Land, LLC. One of John's forest legacies was helping the Pingree family and New England Forestry Foundation create the largest conservation easement in the country. John's leadership in forestry earned him the prestigious Albert D. Nutting Award from the Maine Forest Products Council, recognizing his many contributions to sustainable forest management and environmental stewardship,

John leaves behind a legacy that will bless the citizens of Maine for generations. He always said that ``he was what he was.'' To those who knew him best, he was a ``hero's hero.'' We honor that heroism today as we pay tribute to John for a life lived well in the service of his family, our Nation, and the friends, communities, and forests he loved.