Michael E. Sodrel

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for those kind words, and for his commitment to the Republican Study Committee. I will be short. In fact, a reporter accused me when I first arrived here of being laconic. I have to admit I had to go look that up. It means being relatively stingy with your words. He asked me two questions, and I said ``yes'' and ``yes,'' not realizing it was the job of a Member of Congress to elaborate on all of these things.

As I listened to the previous speakers, if you want to know what happened in this election, you can walk over to the Science Committee. In the hearing room one of the first things I noticed in the wood paneling behind Members in gold-leaf lettering was Proverbs 29:18: Where there is no vision, the people perish. We failed to give the people vision; not the fault of the Republican Study Committee, but it was our fault generally, failure to give the people vision.

I know the RSC has a vision, and I encourage you to not only keep the vision, communicate the vision, and insist that others listen to the vision.

It has been my distinct honor to serve in this body, serve my district and my State and my country for the last 2 years. I had the privilege of visiting my former unit, the 151st Infantry when they were deployed in Afghanistan. They are fine people and represented our State and country well, and acquitted themselves well in the field.

And in typical Hoosier fashion, and I would like to recognize them here tonight, their mission, according to the military was security and training. They couldn't go home in the evenings, so they took on a third mission which was humanitarian. In partnership with Graceland Baptist Church in New Albany, they provided money and classrooms and blankets and virtually anything that the people of Afghanistan needed that they could supply.

They also had a skill set that you don't find in a typical infantry battalion. The commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Grube, was a 6th grade schoolteacher. Sergeant First Class Scott Hamm was manager of the Silver Creek Water Company. So it didn't matter what the locals needed, if you needed water, you called the 151st. If you needed a classroom built, you called the 151st. They had carpenters, electricians, they had all of these civilian skill sets. And being just one step out of civilian life and being of a higher average age than a normal infantry unit, and a lot of them being married with children, they related well to the local folks. So I had the privilege to visit them in Afghanistan and see what kind of job they did and how they represented the State of Indiana in that theater.

I really have nothing else to add other than it has been my honor and privilege not only to serve in this institution, but to serve with people like

my colleague from Indiana, Mr. Pence, and I appreciate your service as chairman of the Republican Study Committee and I appreciate your integrity and hard work and I hope that you will certainly carry on.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a minute to recognize an elementary school in my district for a truly signficant occasion. Silver Street Elementary School in New Albany, IN will celebrate its 90th Anniversary on September 11, 2006, and will welcome another class this year to continue its history of educating the youth of New Albany.

Silver Street Elementary first opened its doors in 1916. Since then, many generations have passed through its halls. The long history of Silver Street allows grandparents to watch their grandkids walk the same halls they once did years before.

Silver Street has continued to be an excellent education institution. Last month, the school received the first Exemplary Award from the State for improving each year in the Indiana Statewide Testing for Educational Progress test scores.

The philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau once wrote, ``We are born weak, we need strength; helpless, we need aid; foolish, we need reason. All that we lack at birth, all that we need when we come to man's estate, is the gift of education.'' Silver Street Elementary has provided this gift for 90 years and the teachers, administrators and parents involved who provided this valuable service to the New Albany community should be commended.

Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to recognize this fine elementary school that has educated many Hoosiers from Southern Indiana. It is an honor to have a historic building still being utilized for educational purposes in the district I represent. Congratulations to Silver Street Elementary for 90 years of success.

Mr. Speaker, I want to take a minute to recognize a couple of my constituents marking a truly momentous occasion. W.E. ``Ike'' and Olive E. Hammond of Orleans, IN will celebrate 60 years of marriage on Wednesday, August 2nd, 2006.

Both Ike and Olive have been lifelong residents of Orleans and have been active participants in their community. Both are involved in the local Republican Party, and have been for quite some time. In fact, their daughter shared a memory of riding on a float in a parade in 1952 proudly wearing her, ``I like Ike'' memorabilia. Olive served as County Vice-Chairwoman for the party and Ike served three terms on the Orleans Town Council. To this day, the Town Council looks to Ike for consultation on matters of importance to community. In 2001, Ike was recognized as ``Citizen of the Year'' in Orleans. The Hammonds have been members of the Orleans United Methodist Church for over 60 years.

Ike proudly served our country in the Second World War in the U.S. Army Air Corps as a crew member on a B-17. Ike continues to be an active member of the American Legion in Orleans. In his civilian career, Ike was in the insurance business retiring in 1988 after a 40- year career. Olive served the area as a Probation Officer in Orange County and has since retired.

In what was perhaps their most important job, the Hammond's raised three daughters who love, support, and congratulate them on their 60 years of marriage.

Mr. Speaker, it is an honor I share in congratulating these two fine people who have enjoyed 60 years of love together as husband and wife. I wish them many more years of happiness and memories together.