[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 3 (Thursday, January 9, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S124-S125]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            THE SILVER ROSE

 Mr. NELSON of Nebraska. Mr. President, I am here today to 
thank Gary Chenett, Diane Rey, and John Schniedermeier. They are 
responsible for awarding the Silver Rose to our veterans in Nebraska. 
The Order of the Silver Rose was established in 1997 by Mary Elizabeth 
Marchand. Her father, Chief Hospital Corpsman Frank Davis, died from 
illnesses resulting from the use of Agent Orange in the Vietnam war. He 
was a combat veteran; however, he was not wounded in combat, but was 
exposed to a dangerous substance while fighting for his country that 
took his life many years later.
  The Department of Defense has determined that Chief Davis and many 
like him do not qualify for the Purple Heart. It is the mission of the 
Order of The Silver Rose organization to recognize the courage, 
heroism, and contributions of American service personnel found to have 
been exposed to Agent Orange in a combat zone. I am sure that as time 
passes, they will expand their focus to members who have died from 
other conflicts.
  The Order of the Silver Rose gives many veterans the satisfaction 
that they are being recognized for giving their Nation the ultimate 
sacrifice. There are thousands of veterans who served this country 
faithfully and now find themselves in poor health, some fatal health, 
directly due to being exposed to harmful substances during war.
  Gary Chenett, Diane Rey, and John Schniedermeier have awarded 11 
Nebraskans with the Silver Rose, I would like to honor them today, they 
are: Raymond D. Todorovich of Omaha, Edgar Fleharty of Fremont, Randy 
E. Holke of Fremont, John Schniedermeier of Omaha, Ronald R. Charles of 
Omaha, Terry H. Greenwell of Omaha, David C. Smith of Firth, Joseph E. 
Stillwell of Omaha, Roy R. Rogers of Fremont, Albert W. Kowalski of 
Omaha, and Gilbert J. Styskal, Jr. of Omaha.
  On behalf of Nebraska, I thank these brave patriots for their 
sacrifices.

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