[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 137 (Wednesday, October 1, 2003)]
[House]
[Page H9037]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              A SALUTE TO THE 495TH TRANSPORTATION COMPANY

  (Mr. PUTNAM asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PUTNAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to welcome home the more than 
100 men and women of the Florida National Guard's 495th Transportation 
Company from Lakeland, Florida as they arrive back in the United States 
and return to their families. I want to thank them for their courage, 
their service, their bravery, and I want to thank their families for 
their patience through this long ordeal. The 495th took small arms fire 
during its tenure in the desert, luckily without casualties.
  Floridians should be proud of the service and tremendous 
accomplishments of the 495th Transportation Company. These men and 
women risked their lives and made sacrifices to keep our country safe 
and secure and secure those same blessings for the Iraqi people.
  Mr. Speaker, the men and women of the 495th Transportation Unit have 
each played an invaluable role in their own communities for years. They 
are now home again to retake their place in businesses, schools, fire 
stations and farms. And I believe Staff Sergeant Stephanie Miller said 
it best: ``I'm just glad to be home. Glad we made it back safe.''
  God bless Stephanie. God bless all her colleagues, and may God 
continue to shower his blessings upon this great land.

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