Madam Speaker, it is with great pride and pleasure that I rise to commend the Honor Flight South Alabama and the 95 World War II veterans this very special organization is bringing to Washington, D.C. this week. Founded by the South…
Madam Speaker, it is with great pride and pleasure that I rise to commend the Honor Flight South Alabama and the 95 World War II veterans this very special organization is bringing to Washington, D.C. this week.
Founded by the South Alabama Veterans Council, Honor Flight South Alabama is an organization whose mission is to fly heroes from Mobile, Baldwin, Washington, Clarke, Monroe, Covington, and Escambia counties in Alabama to see their national memorial.
Over six decades have passed since the end of World War II and, regrettably, it took nearly this long to complete work on the memorial that honors the spirit and sacrifice of the 16 million who served in the U.S. armed forces and the more than 400,000 who died. Sadly, many veterans did not live long enough to hear their country say ``thank you'' yet, for those veterans still living, Honor Flight provides for many their first--and perhaps only--opportunity to see the National World War II Memorial, which honors their service and sacrifice.
Madam Speaker, this week's journey of 95 heroes from south Alabama is an appropriate time for us to pause and thank them--and all of the soldiers who fought in World War II--for they collectively--and literally--saved the world. They personify the very best America has to offer, and I urge my colleagues to take a moment to pay tribute to their selfless devotion to our country and the freedom we enjoy.
I salute each of the 95 veterans who made the trip this week. May we never forget their valiant deeds and tremendous sacrifices.
James Abbot Jr., John Abbott, Lewis Abronski, Stanley Armit, Eugene Baril, Herbert Baskin, Joseph Bell Jr., William Bittner, John Blackmon, Elizabeth Blatchford, Edward Borman, Henry Brackin, James Bryars, John Busbee, Charles Byrd, Donald Carmichael, Charles Carpenter, Hurschel Chambers Jr. and David Chichester.
George Coaker, Robert Constatine Jr., Marvin Courtney, James Coward, Thomas Culpepper, John Douglas, George Edgar, Edwin Fore Jr., Howard Foshee, Glenn Frazier, Lloyd Fremaux, Roland Fry, Richard Gile, Douglas Gordon, Henry Hannett, Joseph Harbuck Jr., James Helland, Jennings Hill and Cecil Hobbs.
William Hobbs Jr., Jean Hooker, Elsie Hovell, Edward Hrinsin, John Hudson, Christopher Hume Jr., Ray Huning, Meldon Hurlbert, Clifford James, James Johnson, George Jones, John Kassab, Frank Keeler Jr., Paul Liles, Horace Luckey, Thomas Martin, Robert Mauer and Floyd McBride.
Joseph McCoy, Cecil McLain, Robert Meador, James Mills, John Moreland Jr., Granvil Neel, James Nickerson, Melvin O'Barr, Lee Otts, Billy Owen, Wilbern Payne, Sidney Phillips Jr., James Philpot, Edward Plouse, Donald Pruett, Iona Quinley, John Rabon, Edward Reagan and John Reiter.
Leon Resmondo, Gary Roberts, Claude Robinson, Hans Schneider, Charles Skinner, Randolph Smith, Raymond Smith, Robert Smith, Arnold Smith, John Stauffer, Charles Strawser, William Stuckey, Ezra Trice, Julius Turner, James White, John Jeptha White-Spunner, Ezell Williams, Chelton Wilson and Janet Woods,