[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 118 (Friday, August 3, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1440-E1441]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO LAURA FROEHLICH

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. KEN CALVERT

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, August 2, 2012

  Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to a 
dear friend of mine, Laura Froehlich. Laura passed away on Wednesday, 
August 1, 2012. As a pillar of the Moreno Valley and Riverside County 
military communities, her sudden passing was a shock to all and she 
will be dearly missed.
  Laura served honorably in the Air Force and began volunteering in 
1985 through the Moreno Valley Military Affairs Committee, which she 
eventually chaired. March Air Reserve Base (MARB) was and still is 
heavily used by Marines from nearby Twentynine Palms and Camp Pendleton 
bases. As increasing numbers of troops began to flow through the MARB 
facilities in the buildup to Operation Iraqi Freedom, Laura wanted to 
ensure that the troops leaving and returning from war received a timely 
farewell and warm welcome, a far cry from the public indifference and 
occasional contempt experienced by veterans returning from Vietnam, 
such as her father. She had organized a similar effort during the 
Persian Gulf War of 1991.
  With the help of her team of more than 100 volunteers, she 
transformed MARB's austere Hangar 385 into a welcoming center where 
troops could relax and enjoy good food and entertainment during their 
6-8-day layovers. Her motto was, ``When they come to March, they're 
taken care of.''
  Laura, fondly known as the ``Flag Mama'' because of her patriotic 
attire, made it a point to be present for the arrival and departure of 
virtually every MARB flight carrying troops to and from the Central 
Command Area of Responsibility. She even purchased a motor home to park 
in the lot near the hangar so she could go quickly between home and the 
base. At the end of 2008, Laura had individually greeted more than 
200,000 men and women on 4,000 flights. When the troops saw ``Miss 
Laura'' at the base to shake their hands and give them a hug, it was 
how they knew they were home.
  Regardless of the recognition she received, Laura remained humble and 
modest. Upon returning home to California from the Pentagon

[[Page E1441]]

in Washington, DC after accepting the Spirit of Hope Award in 2009, she 
remarked:

       I keep getting thanked for something I shouldn't be getting 
     thanked for . . . What I and my awesome group of volunteers 
     do, we do it because it's the right thing to do. The men and 
     women who put their life on the line every day for my 
     freedom, for my grandkids to play safe in my backyard, 
     they're the ones that deserve to be thanked.

  It is hard to imagine that Laura had any free time in addition to her 
tireless work at MARB yet she always found time to serve the community 
in other ways. She worked with many aid agencies including the Veterans 
of Foreign Wars and the Salvation Army, and was the longtime 
coordinator of Moreno Valley's Fourth of July Parade, the ``Trees for 
Troops'' campaign, and the Annual Family Day picnic at March Air 
Reserve Base for all the military services, including 500 Navy 
Reservists who drill at Navy Operational Support Center Moreno Valley.
  Laura is survived by her husband Larry, daughter Laurice (Don) 
Souron, and two granddaughters, Laural Hite and Taylor Hite.
  Laura will always be remembered for her incredible work ethic, 
generosity, contributions to the community and love of family. Her 
dedication to our men and women in uniform, family, and community is a 
testament to a life lived well and a legacy that will continue. I 
extend my condolences to Laura's family and friends; although Laura may 
be gone, the light and goodness she brought to the world remain and 
will never be forgotten.

                          ____________________