[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 60 (Tuesday, May 16, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E844]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORING G.V. ``SONNY'' MONTGOMERY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JIM GIBBONS

                               of nevada

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 16, 2006

  Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the state of Nevada, I would 
like to recognize the late Gillespie V. ``Sonny'' Montgomery for all of 
his lifetime achievements. Sonny passed away on May 12 of this year. 
His 30 years in Congress and 13 years as Chairman of the House 
Veterans' Affairs Committee do not even begin to reveal all that he has 
done for this country.
  As a strong Veterans' advocate, he was the man responsible for 
rallying Congress to pass The Montgomery G.I. Bill, which offered 
education benefits to National Guard and Reserve personnel for the 
first time. Mr. Montgomery also served on the House Armed Services 
Committee, where he made progress in the quality of life for both the 
National Guard and reserve units. As a veteran himself, he seemed to 
establish a stubbornness about him that pressed for improved treatment 
of veterans on Capitol Hill, where he gained the nickname ``Mr. 
Veteran.''
  After returning home from World War II, he returned to active duty 
during the Korean War as part of the National Guard. Shortly 
thereafter, Sonny began his political career in 1956 when he was 
elected to the Mississippi State Senate, where he served for ten years 
before joining the United States House of Representatives in 1967. He 
remained in the National Guard and retired in 1980 with the rank of 
major general.
  In 2005, he received the highest form of civilian honor when 
President Bush awarded him with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. 
Sonny Montgomery was the embodiment of freedom and worked every day of 
his professional life to strengthen our national defense and to ensure 
that this nation honors the soldiers who protect our freedom.
  Not only has this country lost a dedicated serviceman and former 
Member of Congress, but we have also lost a great friend.

                          ____________________