[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 69 (Wednesday, May 6, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S5229]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   TRIBUTE TO LOUISIANA WWII VETERANS

 Ms. LANDRIEU. Mr. President, I am proud to honor a group of 
120 World War II veterans from all over Louisiana who will travel to 
Washington, DC, on May 9 to visit the various memorials and monuments 
that recognize the sacrifices of our Nation's invaluable 
servicemembers.
  Louisiana HonorAir, a group based in Lafayette, LA, sponsored this 
trip to the Nation's Capital. The organization is honoring each 
surviving World War II Louisiana veteran by giving them an opportunity 
to see the memorials dedicated to their service. The veterans will 
visit the World War II, Korea, Vietnam and Iwo Jima memorials. They 
will also travel to Arlington National Cemetery.
  This is the third of four flights Louisiana HonorAir is making to 
Washington, DC, this spring. It is the 16th flight to depart from 
Louisiana, which has sent more HonorAir flights than any other state to 
the Nation's Capital.
  World War II was one of America's greatest triumphs but was also a 
conflict rife with individual sacrifice and tragedy. More than 60 
million people worldwide were killed, including 40 million civilians, 
and more than 400,000 American servicemembers were slain during the 
long war. The ultimate victory over enemies in the Pacific and in 
Europe is a testament to the valor of American soldiers, sailors, 
airmen and marines. The years 1941 to 1945 also witnessed an 
unprecedented mobilization of domestic industry, which supplied our 
military on two distant fronts.
  In Louisiana, there remain today more than 33,000 living WWII 
veterans, and each one has a heroic tale of achieving the noble victory 
of freedom over tyranny. This group had 44 veterans who served in the 
U.S. Army, 27 in the U.S. Air Force, 42 in the Navy, 3 in the Coast 
Guard and 4 in the Marines.
  Our heroes trekked the world for their country. They fought in 
Germany, France, Italy, Africa, Japan, Guam, Guadalcanal, China, 
Okinawa, the Philippines, New Guinea, Korea, Thailand, and Saipan. 
Their journeys included the invasions of North Africa, Sicily and 
Normandy, and the Battle of the Bulge. Their fight for freedom extended 
to New Caledonia and the Solomon Islands.
  One of our Army Airborne veterans navigated a glider plane and became 
a prisoner of war. He also lost a brother during the D-day invasion and 
earned many awards, including the Purple Heart. One of our Army Air 
Corps veterans flew 50 European missions in a B-24 bomber as a flight 
engineer. Another of our Army Air Corps heroes flew 20 missions as a 
tail gunner in a B-17 Flying Fortress. And one of our Navy veterans 
fought at Pearl Harbor.
  I ask the Senate to join me in honoring these 120 veterans, all 
Louisiana heroes, who will visit Washington, and Louisiana HonorAir for 
making these trips a reality.

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