[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 84 (Wednesday, June 6, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Page S3778]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               CONGRATULATING THE CITY OF RICHFIELD, UTAH

 Mr. LEE. Mr. President, today I wish to congratulate the city 
of Richfield, UT, for winning the Joining Forces Community Challenge. 
This honor is of exceptional note as Richfield was the only 
municipality chosen as a finalist in the competition.
  The Joining Forces Community Challenge was launched in July of 2011, 
seeking to encourage and promote creative ways of showing support for 
members of the military and their families. Citizens of Richfield have 
been strongly supportive of military personnel and their loved ones for 
years, especially the men and women who are stationed in and around 
Richfield. The 2nd Battalion, 222nd Field Artillery unit of the Utah 
National Guard is based out of Richfield, and has been deployed four 
times since September 11, with soldiers going to both Iraq and 
Afghanistan. Nicknamed the ``Triple Deuce,'' the 222nd is beloved in 
Utah, and the extraordinary community support made for a perfect 
submission to the challenge.
  Local businesses have found numerous ways to throw their weight 
behind the unit. Many of them offer discounts and special service to 
members of the 222nd and their families, and include messages of 
support in their advertising. Richfield's newspaper, the Richfield 
Reaper, sends free copies to deployed servicemembers and often prints 
photos sent in by soldiers so that family, friends, and neighbors can 
stay connected back home. Richfield City covers utility bills in full 
for the families of deployed soldiers.
  In 2005, the Richfield Chamber of Commerce organized a campaign that 
came to be known as Coins for a Camouflage Christmas. The goal was to 
throw an extraordinary Christmas party for military families during the 
holidays while the 222nd was deployed on an 18-month-long mission in 
Iraq. Participating businesses kept special containers next to their 
cash registers for donations, and asked customers for their spare 
change. Tens of thousands of dollars were collected, and in addition to 
the party, each child of a deployed parent received a special gift from 
that parent delivered by Santa Claus. In 2011, when it was thought that 
the unit would again be deployed over Christmas, Coins for a Camouflage 
Christmas was organized once again. Rather than throwing a party for 
the families of deployed soldiers, Richfield got to throw a welcome 
home party for soldiers who had come back earlier than scheduled as 
American forces withdrew from Iraq.
  The Richfield library has joined in the effort to support the 222nd. 
After discovering that one daughter of a deployed soldier was trying to 
learn about Iraq because her father was there, the library put in a 
special order for books describing the places where parents in the unit 
were deployed. When the books were received, the library held a special 
gathering to introduce the new material.
  City and community leaders were also instrumental in creating and 
signing onto the military's Community Covenant Outreach Program in 
Richfield. Participants promise soldiers and their families support and 
services from Richfield. As part of the program, two large Community 
Covenant signs were built at each end of town to show visitors how much 
Richfield cares about military families.
  Perhaps most importantly, the Richfield community has contributed 
more than a quarter of a million dollars to build a veterans memorial. 
The memorial is currently under construction and slated to be completed 
later this year.
  Richfield has demonstrated over and over again that it is a community 
that cares deeply about the men and women who fight to keep us safe and 
free. The special love for the Triple Deuce is a shining example of how 
a unit should be supported by local communities around the country. I 
sincerely thank my fellow Utahns in Richfield who continue to set a 
high standard of excellence in showing love and respect for our brave 
heroes. Finally, I add my grateful appreciation to all of our men and 
women in uniform.

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