[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 18 (Thursday, February 12, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S1278]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      HOMAGE TO BILL AND TERI POPP

  Mr. COLEMAN. Mr. President, today I pay homage to Minnesotans who are 
helping the Minnesota National Guard and their families. The National 
Guard serves our country and the States as a unique organization among 
all branches of the United States Armed Forces. The Guard is America's 
community-based defense force, located in more than 2,700 cities and 
towns across the Nation. Sixty-two of those cities are located in 
Minnesota. National Guard members are citizen-soldiers and airmen who 
are integral members of their communities. Minnesota National Guard 
members live, shop, work, worship, and go to school in Minnesota's 
cities and towns. This inexorable link between the community and its 
citizen-soldiers is what makes the National Guard an important and 
necessary part of their local and national communities.
  The Minnesota Army and Air National Guard are reserve components of 
the United States Army and Air Force. During times of national 
emergency, National Guard members may be called into active Federal 
service by the President of the United States. Guard members from 
Minnesota have served in every major conflict involving the United 
States Armed Forces since the Guard's inception more than 360 years 
ago. At this time, Minnesota National Guard members are serving in 
Iraq, Bosnia, Afghanistan, and Kosovo, as well as in other countries 
and within the State of Minnesota.
  For the past 40 years, National Guard members have primarily served 
within their own communities, helping assist local law enforcement 
agencies during emergencies. In this capacity, members worked for the 
Guard on a part-time basis, usually just during emergency situations. 
Guard members earned the majority of their income from their jobs in 
the community. In the past couple of years, Guard members have been 
called to active duty. Because of this, they no longer earn their 
civilian incomes. For the most part, their civilian pay far exceeds 
their pay on active duty. In addition, when Guard members are deployed, 
they and their families need to support two households--the Guard 
member in their remote location and the family the Guard member leaves 
behind. While employers are encouraged to meet the pay differential for 
the Guard, oftentimes small companies cannot meet this obligation. Many 
Guard members and their families are caught in an unanticipated set of 
circumstances due to long terms of deployment overseas while supporting 
and protecting our country.
  Inspired by the National Guard's members' dedication, patriotism, and 
selflessness, many Minnesotans have stepped forward to help Minnesota 
National Guard soldiers and their families. The efforts of Bill and 
Teri Popp, of Minnetonka, MN, deserve special praise. Long-time 
supporters of the Guard, they gave generously and challenged other 
Minnesotans to join them in supporting the Minnesota National Guard. 
Bill, founder and owner of POPP Telecom, believes that his company can 
and should improve the quality of life for everyone in his community. 
To that end, the Popps donated $1,000 to every Minnesota National Guard 
member who was serving in Iraq, as of November 14, 2003. The gift the 
Popps made to Guard members in Iraq totaled $166,000.
  A true patriot, Bill included a thank you letter to each Guard member 
that received the donation that provided: ``Thank you for putting your 
life on hold, and on the line, in service to our country. Thank you for 
. . . risking your life to advance liberty and justice for all people 
of the world.''
  To then set an example to the community, the Popps made an additional 
donation to the Minnesota National Guard Foundation to help Guard 
members in financial need. Bill, through his company, also prepared and 
ran announcements on Minnesota radio stations encouraging other people 
and companies in Minnesota to make donations to the foundation to 
support members of the Minnesota National Guard and military reserves 
who have been impacted economically by extended periods of active duty 
service.
  The Popps not only have promised to make sure the sacrifices the 
Guard and other military personal make in service to our country will 
not be forgotten, they have followed through to help that promise come 
true. They epitomize the strength and patriotism of our great Nation.
  On behalf of all Minnesotans, I express my heartfelt appreciation to 
Bill and Teri Popp for their generosity and patriotism. They deserve 
all our thanks.

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