[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 68 (Tuesday, May 5, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1057]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




COMMENDING HONOR FLIGHT SOUTH ALABAMA AND THE 91 WORLD WAR II VETERANS 
                 TRAVELING TO THE WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL

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                             HON. JO BONNER

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 5, 2009

  Mr. BONNER. Madam Speaker, it is with great pride and pleasure that I 
rise to commend the inaugural Honor Flight South Alabama and the 91 
World War II veterans this very special organization is bringing to 
Washington, D.C. this week.
  Founded by the South Alabama Veterans Council, Honor Flight South 
Alabama is an organization whose mission is to fly heroes from Mobile, 
Baldwin, Washington, Clarke, Monroe, Covington, and Escambia counties 
in Alabama to see their national memorial.
  Over six decades have passed since the end of World War II and, 
regrettably, it took nearly this long to complete work on the memorial 
that honors the spirit and sacrifice of the 16 million who served in 
the U.S. armed forces and the more than 400,000 who died. Sadly, many 
veterans did not live long enough to hear their country say ``thank 
you'' yet, for those veterans still living, Honor Flight provides for 
many their first--and perhaps only--opportunity to see the National 
World War II Memorial, which honors their service and sacrifice.
  This Honor Flight, the organization's maiden flight, begins at dawn 
when the veterans will gather at historic Fort Whiting in Mobile and 
travel to Mobile Regional Airport to board a US Airways flight to 
Washington. During their time in their nation's capital, the veterans 
will visit the World War II Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery, and 
other memorials.
  The veterans will return to Mobile Regional Airport Wednesday 
evening, where some 1,000 people--including high school bands, Boy 
Scout troops, and Azalea Trail and Dogwood Trail Maids--are expected to 
greet them.
  Madam Speaker, today's journey of 91 heroes from south Alabama is an 
appropriate time for us to pause and thank them--and all of the 
soldiers who fought in World War II--for they collectively--and 
literally--saved the world. They personify the very best America has to 
offer, and I urge my colleagues to take a moment to pay tribute to 
their selfless devotion to our country and the freedom we enjoy.
  I salute each of the 91 veterans who made the trip today. May we 
never forget their valiant deeds and tremendous sacrifices.

       Vance Barnes; Edna Bednekoff; Maurice Bell; Glenn Boom; 
     Douglas Bower; Alto Brill; John Brodbeck; Arnold Brodbeck, 
     Jr.; William Burchett; Henry Burgess; Helen Callaway; John 
     Campbell; William Carpenter; Florene Clayton; Thomas Cowart; 
     Kenneth Cramton; Charles Cuff; Leo Curtis; John Deloney; Rois 
     Deshazo; Norman Dobson; Jack Dunlavy; Charles Dyas, Jr.; Joe 
     Dykes; Edwin Epperson; William Fleming; Samuel Gilreath; 
     Joseph Gould; George Grau; Joseph Green; and
       John Grimes; Walter Hadley; Woodrow Hall; Jeremiah Hammond; 
     Welton Hance; Paul Hannie; William Harrison III; Billy Heard; 
     Howard Heminger; Earl Hilyer; Paul Hogan; Adam Hollinger; 
     Milton Hudson; Clint Humphrey; Samuel Jenkins; Fred Jones; 
     George Kendley; Charles Kostmeyer; Wilmer Lamey; Francis 
     Larsen; John Laudin; John Lee; Jonathan Leff; Edly Lewis; 
     John Little; Albert Lobsitz; Billy Lyon; Ralph Manning; 
     William March; Dillon March; and
       Dale Martz; Thomas McClellan; Martin McGowan; James 
     McIntyre; John Mitchell; Harry Moreland; J. Edgar Moser; 
     George Noffsinger; Clayton Oleson; Thomas Ollinger; Cecil 
     Palmer; Clarence Phillips; Herbert Pierce; Gordon Pierce; 
     Arthur Prince; Wade Reeves; Sibley Richerson; Gary Roberts; 
     Thomas Schmaeling; Otis Slack; James Sowell, Jr.; Robert 
     Spielmann; Colwin Steadham; Ivan Sweeney; Olin Tisdale; 
     George Underwood; Edward Wade; Henry Waltman; J.B. White-
     Spunner; Mabron Williams; and Janet Woods.

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