[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 139 (Wednesday, September 30, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S9978]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    RECOGNIZING THE CAPITOL HILL SCREENING OF ``THE WAY WE GET BY''

  Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, today I commemorate the Capitol Hill 
screening of ``The Way We Get By'', a deeply moving and powerful 
documentary film about the iconic Troop Greeters of Bangor in my home 
State of Maine. On this wonderful occasion, I join with my colleagues 
in the Maine Delegation--Senator Collins, and Representatives Michaud 
and Pingree--in expressing my tremendous gratitude not only to the 
USO--the indispensable ``home-away-from-home'' for our more than 2.5 
million men and women exceptional enough to wear our Nation's uniform, 
so admirably led by USO president and CEO Sloan Gibson--but also to 
Operation Homefront as well as HandsOn Network--cofounded by Michelle 
Nunn--who is forging her own path within the longstanding, Nunn family 
history of commitment to service as CEO of Points of Light Institute.
  A part of President Obama's United We Serve initiative, all three of 
these stellar organizations are presenting this magnificent film in the 
U.S. Capitol at the wonderful Capitol Visitor Center, and we couldn't 
be more grateful to them--as well as to the Professional Services 
Council and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting--and others too 
numerous to mention for helping bring this documentary to fruition. And 
I would like to especially thank Simon Kilmurry, executive director of 
American Documentary, and Aron Gaudet, the film's director, for their 
stalwart leadership and dedication on this exemplary project.
  And it couldn't be more fitting to have Dr. Jill Biden, the wife of 
Vice President Biden, introduce this well-deserved tribute to the 
Bangor Troop Greeters at today's screening--especially as Beau, the 
Vice President's son and Delaware's attorney general, has just returned 
from his deployment in Iraq as a member of the Delaware Army National 
Guard's 261st Signal Brigade. We commend Beau and all of those 
returning in his brigade, and we cannot thank them enough for their 
courageous service and heroic sacrifice to our Nation.
  And of course, expressing our admiration and thankfulness to those 
who have placed themselves in harm's way on our behalf is the driving 
impetus behind this superb endeavor to capture on film the incredible 
generosity of spirit and good will unflaggingly exemplified by the 
Bangor Troop Greeters. For these extraordinary individuals, three of 
whom are showcased in the movie and attended today's screening, meeting 
our service men and women at the Bangor International Airport is an 
undeniable labor of love and a heartfelt expression of their devotion 
to our country and all who defend her.
  In chronicling the selfless, patriotic and frankly larger-than-life 
actions of three amazing Mainers--Bill Knight, Joan Gaudet, and Jerry 
Mundy, director and Old Town native, Aron Gaudet--in tandem with Gita 
Pullapilly, the film's producer and interviewer, deftly brings to this 
undertaking the venerable tradition of extending handshakes and hugs to 
our brave soldiers, dating back to the first gulf war and Operation 
Desert Storm. And to document the humanity underpinning this monumental 
outpouring of support for our troops--which occurs 24 hours a day, 365 
days a year, rain or shine--is a marvelous achievement and one which 
instills enormous pride in us all.
  On a personal note, I can't tell you how many of our soldiers I have 
encountered who have expressed their immense appreciation to the world-
renowned Bangor Troop Greeters. In fact, I well recall one soldier 
coming up to me specifically to convey just how remarkable the troop 
greeters were and that fellow soldiers shared the same sentiment. We 
echo that very sensibility today.
  Congratulations to all who have been involved in the continuing 
success of this highly-acclaimed film documenting a phenomenal story of 
giving back to those who have given us all so much--our service men and 
women!

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