[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 159 (Wednesday, November 5, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2237]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          LT COL ROBERT HAGEN

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. C.A. DUTCH RUPPERSBERGER

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 5, 2003

  Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a 
great American, Lt. Col. Robert Hagen.
  Col. Hagen is a career Army officer with 24 years of service. He has 
served in the Guard, Reserves and Active Duty--and he is currently a 
Reservist on his 16th tour in 7 years.
  Col. Hagen was in Saudi Arabia for a temporary tour of duty during 
the September 11 attacks on the base just outside of Riyadh and he was 
responsible for keeping the soldiers on the base informed. I'm sure all 
Americans abroad at that time--particularly those in uniform--would 
have preferred being closer to home and protecting those on the home 
front in harm's way. This was especially true for soldiers like Col. 
Hagen who knew many working at the Pentagon and lost six friends that 
fateful day. But through that terrible time in our Nation's history, so 
many like Col. Hagen remained abroad, steadfast in protecting American 
democratic principles throughout the world.
  Col. Hagen returned to Washington in December 2001 on assignment to 
the Pentagon as deputy chief of Army Communications in the office of 
the chief of Public Affairs. In this position, Col. Hagen oversaw the 
public affairs duties at Baltimore-Washington International Airport for 
troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan on the Rest & Recuperation 
program. It was in this capacity that I had the great fortune to first 
meet the Colonel.
  Always calm and assured speaking simultaneously into a cell phone, 
making decisions, answering questions and enthusiastically welcoming 
troops home as they disembark from planes, Col. Hagen has been an 
incredible force at BWI during this historic R&R program that brought 
troops stateside for the first time in DoD history. Always committed to 
doing what is best for the soldiers, I am grateful to Col. Hagen for 
his work and his efforts each day.
  I am also grateful for his support for Operation Hero Miles, a 
program coordinated through my office to correct a great injustice. For 
soldiers coming home on R&R and facing the incredibly unfair financial 
burden of paying for last minute flights home from BWI, Operation Hero 
Miles collects frequent flier miles to give soldiers in need free 
tickets home. Col. Hagen was on board with this program from the start 
and helped us to understand what was needed to make it work. Again, 
this is just another example of his commitment to do what is best for 
the soldiers.
  Col. Hagen's last day on this Washington assignment is November 14, 
2003 and then he will begin home for his 29th cross-country drive back 
to the west coast. As he does so, I wish to thank him for his 
dedication to this Nation and to the service men and women who so 
bravely protect it. I thank his wife Sharon Hagen for her support when 
Col. Hagen's work took him so far away from home so often.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking Col. Hagen 
for his service and for his work on behalf of America's service men and 
women and our Nation.

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