[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 83 (Thursday, June 9, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Page S3678]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                HONORAIR

 Ms. LANDRIEU. Mr. President, I wish to speak about a very 
special flight that just took place. The Louisiana HonorAir flight that 
came into Washington on Saturday, May 28, included a group of 77 World 
War II veterans from Louisiana. These veterans visited the various 
memorials and monuments that recognize the sacrifices of our Nation's 
invaluable military members.
  Louisiana HonorAir, a group based in Lafayette, LA, sponsored this 
latest trip--its 22nd flight--to the Nation's Capital. The organization 
honors surviving Louisiana World War II veterans by giving them an 
opportunity to see the memorials dedicated to their service. On this 
trip, the veterans visited the World War II, Korea, Vietnam and Iwo 
Jima memorials. They traveled to Arlington National Cemetery to lay a 
wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
  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 are roughly 21,000 living WWII veterans, and each 
one has a heroic tale of achieving the noble victory of freedom over 
tyranny. The oldest in this HonorAir group was born in 1915 and 7 
veterans on this HonorAir flight were women. These veterans served in 
various branches of the military--20 Army, 26 Navy, 12 Army Air Corps, 
11 Marines, 1 Coast Guard, and 7 in women's services.
  Our heroes served across the globe, participating in major invasions 
such as those at Iwo Jima, Okinawa, Guadalcanal, Leyte, the 
Philippines, and southern France. One was a prisoner of war who also 
received the Army of Occupation medal, while others fought in the 
historic Battle of the Bulge or at Pearl Harbor during the infamous 
attack in 1941. Many of these veterans have been decorated with honors 
such as the Purple Heart or the Bronze Star Medal.
  These men and women, who have given so much for our country, truly 
represent our greatest generation. I ask the Senate to join me in 
honoring these 77 veterans, all Louisiana heroes, that we welcomed to 
Washington on May 28 and Louisiana HonorAir for making these trips a 
reality.

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