[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 17 (Tuesday, February 26, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1198-S1199]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SUPPORT FOR U.S. SERVICE MEMBERS SERVING IN OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM

  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to the greatest 
source of strength of our military forces engaged in the war on 
terrorism--the support they receive from the American people. Over 
Thanksgiving, Senator Warner and I traveled to Central Asia to visit 
with our soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines serving in Operation 
Enduring Freedom. Nothing lifted our spirits more than sharing 
Thanksgiving with these wonderful troops. Nothing lifted their spirits 
more than our message that the American people totally support their 
mission and are deeply grateful for their service.
  We have seen that support on display in countless ways in recent 
months. Americans from every corner of our country have reached into 
their hearts and reached out to our men and women in uniform, 
especially over the holidays. One particular story came to my attention 
that I think captures the American spirit at this time in history.
  Just before Thanksgiving, Kasi Brannan of Covington, LA, decided to 
send a simple holiday card to her son, AT3 Eric Lepkowski, who was 
serving on the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt in the Arabian 
Sea. When

[[Page S1199]]

family, friends, and members of the community learned of her effort, 
they wanted to add their wishes as well. When a television station and 
newspaper from New Orleans reported the story, people from all over 
Louisiana wanted to add their appreciation. And when other families and 
friends of sailors abroad the Theodore Roosevelt heard the news through 
the Internet and e-mail, they wanted to include wishes to their own 
husbands, wives, sons, brothers, sisters and friends. As the news 
spread across the Nation, even total strangers wrote in to express 
their thanks to our servicemen and women.
  What started out as a simple holiday message to one sailor had 
quickly grown to a greeting card from all America--a 75-foot banner 
with more than 1,000 stars, each containing the holiday wishes from 
grateful Americans from nearly every state and at least three 
continents. Among them were several families from my home state of 
Michigan. Those wishes made all the difference to the 5,000 men and 
women of the Theodore Roosevelt, who displayed the banner in one of 
their hanger bays as a reminder of home and a daily inspiration.
  I know my Senate colleagues will join me in celebrating the spirit of 
America's unity embodied in Kasi Brannan and all our military families 
who endure separation from their loved ones and who sacrifice in ways 
that most Americans will never know.
  I know my Senate colleagues will join me in acknowledging the 
commitment of our senior military leaders to the morale and welfare of 
our forces, as evidenced in the efforts of Vice Chief of Naval 
Operations Admiral William Fallon and U.S. Fifth Fleet Commander Vice 
Admiral Charles Moore Jr. to quickly transport the 1,000-star banner to 
the Theodore Roosevelt in time for the holidays.
  Finally, I know my Senate colleagues will also join me in honoring 
the service of AT3 Eric Lepkowski and all the brave, dedicated and 
skilled men and women serving in the armed forces to keep this Nation 
free.
  Ms. LANDRIEU. Mr. President, I rise today to join my colleague from 
Michigan in thanking Kasi Brannen for her strong patriotism and undying 
support for our men and women deployed to the theater of conflict.
  Kasi Brannen's son, AT3 Eric Lepkowski, serves aboard the aircraft 
carrier USS Roosevelt in the Arabian Sea. When she began assembling a 
Christmas card for him, she asked friends and family in her hometown of 
Covington, Louisiana, to contribute well wishes and greetings. Soon, 
word got out in Convington that she was going to send a card to the 
Roosevelt and messages poured in from all over town. Then word spread 
through the entire Northshore, and then to New Orleans, and to Baton 
Rouge, and then all over the country. Kasi's Christmas greetings to 
Eric became the opportunity for the entire country to send its thanks 
and their holiday blessings to all the men and women serving overseas 
to protect America. These messages came not just from Navy families, 
but from scores of Americans who wanted to express their support for 
our troops. A simple Christmas card turned into a 75 foot banner with 
over 1,000 messages on it.
  Getting this banner to the men and women of the Roosevelt was no 
small feat. December had rolled around and people, known and unknown to 
Kasi, still desired to add their message to the banner. Kasi was 
wondering if she could get the package to the Roosevelt in time for 
Christmas. When the Navy found out about Ms. Brannan's project, the 
Vice Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral William J. Fallon, and the 
Commander of the Fifth Fleet, Vice Admiral Charles W. More, offered to 
transport the banner personally.
  The 5,000 men and women serving aboard the Roosevelt received the 
banner in time for Christmas and delighted in reading the messages from 
home. We can only imagine the effect that these messages had on the 
sailors of the Roosevelt. When our sailors go on deployment, they live 
in cramped quarters and go without the usual creature comforts. This, 
combined with the isolation and loneliness of combat can take its toll 
and easily diminish morale. When one of our sailors receives a letter 
from home, it reconnects them with their families and friends and 
reminds them just what they are fighting for.
  When our nation goes to war, it is fought on many fronts in many 
different ways. First and foremost, it is fought by the Soldiers, 
Sailors, Airmen, and Marines who are constantly in harm's way. But 
these men and women are fully supported by their families and friends 
at home. I think the spouses and children of all of our fighting men 
and women know their duty in keeping up morale, and they will follow 
through.
  I am extremely proud of all fighting men and women from Louisiana. 
Our State is home to thousands of service-members, and they are part of 
the overall force which protects this great nation. I am also extremely 
proud of our citizens who support these men and women in uniform. The 
efforts of Kasi Brannen are truly superb and are deserving of great 
recognition.
  I want to join my good friend from Michigan in praising Kasi Brannen 
and the hundreds of other Americans who contributed to her project. I 
also want to commend the Vice Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral 
William J. Fallon, and the Commander of the Fifth Fleet, Vice Admiral 
Charles W. More for their extraordinary efforts in keeping up the 
morale of our fighting men and women. I know that my colleagues in the 
Senate join me in commending the husbands, wives and family back home, 
our service men and women deployed abroad, and the commanders who lead 
them.

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