[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 192 (Wednesday, December 14, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Page S8598]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  TRIBUTE TO COLONEL WILLIAM M. VOIGT

 Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, today I wish to praise an 
exceptional man, COL William M. Voigt.
  Colonel Voigt has been one of the foremost civil and military leaders 
in Birmingham and in my State of Alabama for around a half century now. 
I was proud to join Colonel Voigt recently in Birmingham when he 
accepted his well-deserved award as the 2011 National Veteran of the 
Year.
  I have had the pleasure to know Bill personally for many years and to 
observe his devotion to his country. His patriotism is unsurpassed.
  Colonel Voigt served his country with 30 years in the Alabama Air 
National Guard and another 5 years of service with the U.S. Air Force 
Reserve. He has achieved not only a bachelor of science in business 
administration from Auburn University and a master's in business 
administration from the University of Alabama in Birmingham but has 
also graduated from the Air War College, the Industrial College of the 
Armed Forces, the Air Command and Staff College, and the Squadron 
Officer School.
  In addition to his own education, COL Bill Voigt has given his time 
and efforts to an impressive and exhaustive list of nonprofits and 
service organizations. On top of this, he has served for over 20 years 
as the president of the National Veterans Day organization.
  Birmingham is the birthplace of Veterans Day. The very first Veterans 
Day celebration was held in Birmingham by this very organization in 
1947. It was only in 1954, 7 years later, that Congress agreed to the 
value of this wonderful event and made Veterans Day the national 
holiday it is today.
  The Birmingham National Veterans Day celebration is believed to be 
not only the oldest but also the largest in the country. The day 
includes a parade and a large awards dinner. The entire effort is a 
monumental planning exercise. For 20 years Bill Voigt made it happen.
  This year's dinner was a very special one. The organization's 
president, James A. Holt, Congressman Spencer Bachus, Congresswoman 
Terri Sewell, and others took part in the excellent program. I was 
honored to be a part of the program also. The superb keynote speaker 
was RADM Tom Steffens (retired), a U.S. Navy SEAL for 34 years. It was 
a special program indeed, but the remarks all revolved around Colonel 
Voigt. I know he and his wonderful family were most proud.
  Colonel Voigt represents the model for the type of person we should 
push our youth to emulate. He is a man who has proven time and time 
again that he is willing to serve his country, his community, and his 
fellow veterans who have fought for the ideals and goals of the United 
States of America.
  Mr. President, it is my honor to pay tribute to this great man and by 
extension this wonderful annual Veterans Day event.

                          ____________________