[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 67 (Thursday, May 6, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E773-E774]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         WELCOMING HONOR FLIGHT SOUTH ALABAMA TO WASHINGTON, DC

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JO BONNER

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 6, 2010

  Mr. BONNER. Madam Speaker, it is with great pride and pleasure that I 
rise to commend Honor Flight South Alabama and the 98 World War II 
veterans this very special organization is bringing to Washington, DC 
on May 12, 2010.
  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 begins at dawn when the veterans will gather at 
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 are expected to greet them.
  Madam Speaker, today's journey of 98 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

[[Page E774]]

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 98 veterans who made the trip today. May we 
never forget their valiant deeds and tremendous sacrifices.
  David Allen, Mordecai Arnold, Herman Bailey, Russell Bartlett, Howard 
Beach, John Benson Jr., Jerry Bethea Sr., Ernest Bishop, Jean Branum, 
Melvin Brassfield, Janice Britton, Thomas Brown Jr., Bruce Calder, John 
Carey, Marvin Carpenter, Richard Cassady, Frederick Centanne, Joseph 
Champaign, Sidney Chandler, Edmund Clark, Jean Couch Jr., James 
Crawford, George Davis, Quentin Davis, Roy deDrew, Daniel Dennis Jr., 
James DeVaney Jr., Kenneth Duffee, Roy Dye, Philip English Jr., Vasco 
Fast Sr., Joseph Ferguson, Leroy Gilley, Johnnie Green, Joseph Greer, 
William Gross Sr., Willie Hankins, Curtis Hass, Mary Hirschfeldt, 
Robert Hohl Sr., William Howell Jr., Herndon Inge Jr., Donald Ingraham, 
William Johnson, William Jones, William Kirkland Jr., Junius Klein, 
John Klein, Louis Knowles, John Loper, Elaine Lortie, Robert Lowell, 
Jack Lufkin, Kenneth Marshall, Robert Marshall, Lindsey May, Dallas 
McElroy, Oscar McKeithen, John McKinley, Robert Meador Sr., Frank 
Mitternight Jr., William Molaschi, Bennie Mullins, Robert Nester, 
Albert Peck, Richard Peterson, Nelson Richardson, Malcolm Roberts, 
Archie Robinson, Derrel Rochford, Dorothy Rowell, Ernest Rupert Jr., 
Virgil Russell, William Russell Jr., Wallace Sabin, Robert Scott, Nina 
Seacrist, Thomas Shell, Odis Shepherd, Patricia Small, Prentiss 
Spotswood Sr., Thomas Sutton, William Svetkovich, Melvin Tarver, John 
Terrell Jr., Winters Thomas, Stanley Thurston, Samuel Vaughn Sr., Dale 
Wagner, William Waller, Dwight Ward, Audie Waters, John Webb, Louis 
Williams, Benjamin Williams, Harold Winger, Anton Witte and Paul 
Wyckoff

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