[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 25 (Thursday, February 25, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H908-H909]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              HONORING THE HEROES OF THE HAITIAN DISASTER

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Etheridge) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday, the House unanimously passed 
House Resolution 1066, recognizing the bravery and efforts of the 
United States Armed Forces, local first responders, and other members 
of Operation Unified Response for their swift and coordinated action in 
light of the devastation wrought upon the nation of Haiti after a 
horrific 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Port-au-Prince and surrounding 
cities on the 12th of January, 2010.
  I have the unique honor of representing both Fort Bragg and Pope Air 
Force Base. Men and women from the base were critical to the Haitian 
relief effort, and soldiers were involved in rescue and recovery 
operations as well as in humanitarian relief--passing out food and 
water to victims of this terrible disaster.
  I would like to thank all of the military and civilian personnel who 
responded so effectively and quickly to this disaster, serving 
honorably under less than ideal conditions.
  The 2nd Battalion of the 82nd Airborne Division and the 18th Airborne 
Corps were among the first responders, with hundreds of people on the 
ground within days of the disaster and thousands within a week.

                              {time}  2000

  The 2nd of the 319th Airborne soon joined them. The entire United 
States Army Garrison Fort Bragg came together and deployed units from 
the 82nd Airborne and 18th Corps in their support for our neighbors to 
the south.
  In times of disaster, restoring and supporting the most basic 
requirements of life becomes a challenge. The 43rd and the 440th 
Maintenance Operations Squadrons and the 43rd Logistics Readiness 
Squadron provided the support for the fundamental requirements 
desperately needed by the Haitians: water, meals, and basic shelter. Of 
course, even the most needed supplies are useless on a tarmac. The 3rd 
Aerial Port Squadron, the 43rd Missions Support Squadron, the 440th Air 
Wing, and the 2nd Airlift Squadron got the materials where they were 
needed. The 145th Air Wing of the North Carolina National Guard worked 
with Pope Air Force personnel to make these deliveries happen. Matching 
the supplies and the need is no small task. The 43rd Operations Support 
Squadron and the 43rd Communication Squadron brought it all together 
under the able direction of the 43rd OG Command Post and assistance of 
the 43rd Security Forces.
  The devastation of the nation of Haiti was tremendous. The 
infrastructure we take most for granted was destroyed. Roads, airports, 
and water infrastructure were made useless in an instant. The 43rd 
Civil Engineering Squadron arrived to put out fires and stayed to 
rebuild these fundamental needs.
  The military personnel were not the only ones from North Carolina who 
responded to the crisis. Civilians, first responders, individual 
volunteers, and generous donors all helped make a difference to the 
people of Haiti. Communities of faith across the State moved

[[Page H909]]

to help all Haitians, many building upon decades of commitment to that 
island nation. Churches of every denomination and members of all faiths 
worked together in acts of charity. As the Gospel tells us to do, they 
fed the hungry, gave water to the thirsty, sent shelter to strangers, 
provided clothing to the suddenly destitute, offered comfort and 
medical care, and, in the saddest charity of all, some helped to bury 
the dead. In addition to the efforts of the churches, synagogues, 
mosques, and other places of prayer, the Lions, the Masons, and the 
Daughters of the American Revolution all pulled out the stops to reach 
across the ocean.
  Mr. Speaker, the military support, the people of faith, and the 
civilian first responders are not three groups; they are all one 
community. These groups are interwoven threads that came together to 
weave a safety net of volunteers, food, comfort, and shelter for the 
suffering in Haiti. I am proud of their efforts as they've worked to 
support the needs in Haiti. I am proud to represent such an amazing 
tapestry of generosity and talent in the 2nd District of North 
Carolina. And I was proud to support this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, let me say tonight to all Americans: I thank them for 
their help to these people in their hour of need.

                          ____________________