[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 21 (Tuesday, February 3, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E187-E188]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO FOUR FLORIDA VETERANS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. KENDRICK B. MEEK

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 3, 2009

  MR. MEEK of Florida. Madam Speaker, today I rise to pay tribute to 
the lives and legacies of the late Ernest Holman, John Joseph Sweet, 
Nathaniel Henry Winger, and Pedro Aguero. Following years of 
courageous, dutiful and patriotic service to their country while 
serving in the United States Army, these four men found themselves 
homeless and without families.
  After dedicating years of their lives, these four brave and patriotic 
men answered the call of duty by risking their lives to serve and 
protect our Nation. As citizens we owe these men an overabundance of 
gratitude and respect for their compassion, commitment, and dedication

[[Page E188]]

in safeguarding our freedoms. As a result of their bravery and the 
bravery of so many other Americans, millions have enlisted in the 
American Armed Forces.
  Veterans such as Messrs. Holman, Sweet, Winger, and Aguero suffered 
from a complex set of factors that affect all homeless individuals--an 
extreme shortage of affordable housing, a livable income, limited 
access to health care, which is exacerbated by a lack of family and 
social support networks. The Department of Veterans Affairs estimates 
nearly 196,000 veterans are homeless on any given night and 
approximately 400,000 veterans experience homelessness during the year. 
Homeless veterans are in dire need of housing, nutritional meals, 
physical health care, substance abuse aftercare, and mental health 
counseling. Messrs. Holman, Sweet, Winger, and Aguero are 
quintessential examples of the deeply tragic treatment dealt to our 
Nation's homeless veterans.
  In July of 2007, the then Senator Barack Obama stated, ``As long as 
there are veterans or veteran family members searching for shelter on 
the streets . . . we have failed in our duty to honor our commitment of 
the brave men and women who chose to serve.'' I am confident that 
President Barack Obama's administration will sympathize with the plight 
of homeless veterans and correct these injustices.
  Messrs. Holman, Sweet, Winger, and Aguero inspired our Nation with 
their dedication and heroic efforts during their respective tenures in 
the Armed Forces. They will forever be recognized for their honorable 
services.
  Madam Speaker, I ask that my distinguished colleagues join me in 
recognizing Ernest Holman, John Joseph Sweet, Nathaniel Henry Winger, 
and Pedro Aguero for their contributions to the United States of 
America and safeguarding its freedoms.

                          ____________________