[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 40 (Friday, April 8, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E595]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 REGARDING THE RECENT RUNNING OF THE HONOLULU MARATHON AND GREAT ALOHA 
                RUN BY OUR BRAVE SOLDIERS IN AFGHANISTAN

                                 ______
                                 

                              HON. ED CASE

                               of hawaii

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, April 8, 2005

  Mr. CASE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to provide some good news out of 
Afghanistan.
  On December 11, 2004, members of the 2nd Battalion, 5th Infantry 
Regiment of the United States Army organized and completed an 
Afghanistan adjunct to the Honolulu Marathon in the Tarin Kowt area of 
the country. Subsequently, on January 30, 2005, the 25th Infantry 
Division (Light) Headquarters Company personnel organized the running 
of Honolulu's Great Aloha Run in-country.
  Both races were resounding successes. On February 15, 2005, I wrote 
to the President to ensure that he was aware that these events had 
occurred. I am including a copy of my letter to follow these remarks.
  Mr. Speaker, I hope that you and our colleagues are as impressed as 
me that members of our Armed Forces were able to organize and conduct 
such multi-faceted events, given the perilous security situation 
throughout most of the country and these soldiers' many other duties. I 
urge all other members to join me in lauding these troops for their 
accomplishments and spirit.

                                Washington, DC, February 15, 2005.
     The Hon. George W. Bush,
     President of the United States of America, The White House, 
         Washington, DC
       Dear Mr. President: This is to ensure your awareness of two 
     recent events in Hawaii and Afghanistan that I am sure you 
     will agree represent the best of our country.
       As you know, my Hawaii is ideally suited and dedicated to 
     physical fitness. It is also home to a larger component of 
     our country's armed forces, over 10,000 of whom are now 
     serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.
       Two major events on Hawaii's outdoor calendar are the 
     Honolulu Marathon, reportedly the third largest marathon 
     event worldwide, and the Great Aloha Run, an event attracting 
     thousands of residents and visitors. This year, the 
     organizers of both events teamed with our military to 
     recognize our troops serving overseas, many of whom 
     participate in these and other events when they are home in 
     Hawaii, in organizing and conducting these events in 
     Afghanistan as well.
       Specifically, on December 11, 2004, Honolulu Marathon day, 
     members of the 2nd Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment, USA 
     organized and completed the Honolulu Marathon--Afghanistan in 
     the Tarin Kowt area of the country. And on January 30, 2005, 
     Great Aloha Run day, the 25th Infantry Division (Light) 
     Headquarters Company personnel organized the running of the 
     Great Aloha Run--Afghanistan.
       All 153 participants in the Honolulu Marathon--Afghanistan 
     were treated like every finisher of the Marathon: each 
     received the same medals, certificates and tee-shirts. An 
     official timing system was flown in and the finishing times 
     were placed on the Marathon's website along with all other 
     finishers from the race in Honolulu. I would like to 
     highlight the reaction of the winner of the Marathon, First 
     Lieutenant Mike Baskin; he burst into tears as he remembered 
     his four fellow soldiers who had recently been killed.
       While only military personnel ran in each race, those who 
     ran in the Great Aloha Run--Afghanistan endured sub-freezing 
     temperatures and, more importantly, raised money for local 
     Afghan charities, including an orphanage in downtown Khowst. 
     Because of its shorter distance, the race was conducted in 
     four separate locations throughout the country, including 
     Bagram Airfield and Forward Operating Base Salerno.
       I wanted you not only to know of these heartwarming 
     efforts, but also have the opportunity to provide whatever 
     recognition you may wish to the organizers of both events in 
     both Hawaii and Afghanistan and, more important, to our great 
     troops, who demonstrated the finest spirit of our armed 
     services under difficult circumstances. Mahalo nui loa!
           With Aloha,

                                                      Ed Case,

                                                 U.S. Congressman,
     Hawai`i, Second District.

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