[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 147 (Tuesday, October 4, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1753]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   TRIBUTE TO HONOR FLIGHT OF OREGON

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. GREG WALDEN

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, October 4, 2011

  Mr. WALDEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the 27 World War II 
veterans from Oregon who will be visiting their memorial this Friday in 
Washington, D.C. through Honor Flight of Oregon. On behalf of a 
grateful state and country, we welcome these heroes to the nation's 
capital.
  The veterans on this flight from Oregon are: William Raupp, U.S. Air 
Force; Russell Blower, U.S. Army; William Brown, U.S. Army; Glenn 
Butler, U.S. Army; Earl Davis, U.S. Army; Howard Heinz, U.S. Army; 
LeRoy Hopkins, U.S. Army; David Kyle, U.S. Army; Harold ``Bud'' Loucks, 
U.S. Army; Robert Rampy, U.S. Army; Harrison ``Robbie'' Robbins, U.S. 
Army; Anthony DelCollo, U.S. Army Air Corps; Leo Kraft, U.S. Marine 
Corps; Joseph Lavallee, U.S. Marine Corps; Charlotte ``Sharkey'' Meyer, 
U.S. Marine Corps; Michael Pershem, U.S. Marine Corps; Francis Welsh, 
U.S. Marine Corps; Donald Ayriss, U.S. Navy; John Brazie, U.S. Navy; 
Jack Buckley, U.S. Navy; Kenneth Deacon, U.S. Navy; Keith Frey, U.S. 
Navy; Melvin Leroy Kerber, U.S. Navy; Margaret Lutz, U.S. Navy; James 
Petralba, U.S. Navy; Allan Westphal, U.S. Navy; Frank Smith, U.S. Navy.
  These 27 heroes join more than 63,000 veterans from across the 
country who, since 2005, have journeyed from their home states to 
Washington, D.C. to reflect at the memorials built in honor of our 
nation's veterans.
  Mr. Speaker, each of us is humbled by the courage of these soldiers, 
sailors, airmen and marines who put themselves in harm's way for our 
country and way of life. As a nation, we can never fully repay the debt 
of gratitude owed to them for their honor, commitment, and sacrifice in 
defense of the freedoms we have today.
  My colleagues, please join me in thanking these veterans and the 
volunteers of Honor Flight of Oregon for their exemplary dedication and 
service to this great country. I especially want to recognize and thank 
Gail Yakopatz for her tireless work as president of Honor Flight of 
Oregon.

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