[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 18 (Thursday, February 12, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E165]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 HONORING THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF ANNE HART

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JEFF MILLER

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 11, 2004

  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 
achievements of one of my constituents who has unselfishly helped and 
enriched the lives of many of our Nation's veterans, Mrs. Anne Hart.
  For the past 10 years, Anne has worked tirelessly and unselfishly as 
a volunteer within the Office of Veterans' Affairs in Pensacola where 
she volunteers over 50 hours a week helping veterans file claims. She 
has been an extremely valuable asset to the VA office and officers with 
whom she has worked alongside.
  Anne's husband was shot down in Vietnam in 1972 and was listed as 
missing in action until 1978. As a widow with six young children, she 
confronted the Federal government in 1986 by challenging their 
identification of her husband from the remains that were found.
  At the time, she was unknowingly preparing herself to later help 
fight for several veterans who have served their country with honor and 
courage. Anne's struggles have earned her much respect among veterans, 
who have described her as having a heart of an angel.
  Other than helping veterans in need within the Veterans' Affairs 
office, Anne has come to the aid of many homeless veterans who were 
persuaded by her influence to abandon the notion of ``giving up.'' She 
even drove one veteran over 75 miles to his mother's funeral in 
Alabama.
  Anne's job has been to keep veterans' records in order, effectively 
by making sure all of the facts are quickly verified in order to help 
facilitate a sometimes difficult claims process. Her faithful service 
of acting as a sounding board for thousands of veterans has made her a 
guardian angel to many of the bravest veterans that our country will 
ever know.
  Many veterans, who travel from hundreds of miles to see her, have 
walked away with the feeling that ``someone really cares.''
  Anne is strongly supportive of her government and feels that her 
obligation is to make sure that they do things the right way.
  On behalf of the United States Congress, I would like to recognize 
this special lady with a big heart, Anne Hart, for the example she has 
set for our country and for northwest Florida. I offer my sincere 
thanks for all that she has done for northwest Florida and the United 
States of America.

                          ____________________