[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 79 (Thursday, May 21, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H5987-H5988]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            REMEMBERING RICHARD WARREN OF PAT'S COFFEE SHOP

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. McHenry) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. McHENRY. Madam Speaker, there is a coffee shop in my district and 
Richard Warren owned that coffee shop, and to every veteran that walked 
in the door, he said, Welcome home. And today, tonight, on Memorial 
Day, I rise to honor the life and legacy of Richard Warren of 
Mooresville, North Carolina.
  He was the owner and operator of Pat's Coffee Shop and a Vietnam 
veteran. Richard Warren served in the 68th Attack Helicopter Company of 
the United States Army, and for the last 14 years, Richard ran Pat's 
Coffee Shop in Mooresville. Now, this is not your ordinary coffee shop. 
Pat's became known as the most patriotic coffee shop in America. In no 
time, that little coffee shop became exactly what Richard had 
envisioned: a gathering place for local veterans. Veterans from all 
across Iredell County and around the region, even, would come together 
every day to share their tales and stories--boy, were there some 
stories--over coffee and a bite to eat.
  Before long, veterans started bringing mementos from their time in 
the service. Richard hung those pictures and memorabilia on the wall 
and acknowledged every veteran--as I said every veteran who walked in 
that door got a very honest ``welcome home'' from Richard Warren. Pat's 
Coffee Shop became a living shrine to the men and women, the veterans, 
who risked their lives to defend America.

[[Page H5988]]

  On one special occasion, former Senator Bob Dole of Kansas stopped in 
and spent several hours talking to veterans, exchanging stories and 
tales and reminiscing with his fellow brothers-in-arms. Pat's Coffee 
Shop has had a number of visitors. I've visited a number of times.
  But Richard didn't stop there. Richard founded also the Welcome Home 
Veterans, a local nonprofit group. He would actively help veterans find 
jobs in the community and could have been considered an unofficial 
veterans caseworker for my office and for Senators' offices as well. 
Richard frequently contacted my office on behalf of veterans who had 
challenges, who had problems, but there wasn't anything Richard would 
do or wouldn't do to help a fellow veteran.
  So it's a little wonder that those who knew Richard Warren best 
called him a true patriot. In fact, I've got a picture of a young 
Richard Warren, he couldn't have been more than 3 years old, sitting in 
front of a stoop in front of his boyhood home with a big backdrop of an 
American flag. It's a black and white photo that I've got hanging in my 
office to this day, and I will continue to have hanging on my wall. 
It's a true young patriot there, and it's really wonderful American 
history. And I honor Richard by keeping that on my bookshelf and in my 
office.
  Now, I was proud to visit Pat's Coffee Shop on a number of occasions 
and to call Richard Warren a friend. I look forward to returning to 
Pat's Coffee Shop not only to honor the veterans but to honor Richard 
Warren. Our Nation has lost a hero, a man who served his country and 
more and then made his life's work that of service to his fellow man.
  Richard Warren will be missed by many. He will be missed by the young 
and old alike, veterans and those who didn't have the honor of serving 
will miss him as well
  On this Memorial Day, we honor our veterans, the fallen, and I honor 
of Richard Warren. And I know when he was greeted at the Pearly Gates, 
he got a solemn and heartfelt ``welcome home.''

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