[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 124 (Friday, September 14, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1542]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     HONORING THE VOLUSIA HONOR AIR PROGRAM, VOLUNTEERS AND DONORS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOHN L. MICA

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 14, 2012

  Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Volusia Honor Air 
program. This program is designed to honor and recognize the veterans 
we often refer to as the ``Greatest Generation.''
  Over the past 5 years, the Volusia Honor Air program has provided an 
opportunity for our World War II Veterans from the central Florida area 
to travel to Washington, DC to visit the memorial built in their honor. 
That one-day event for these World War II heroes is one of the most 
special in their lives and is certainly well deserved.
  Since the first flight in 2008, the program has accommodated more 
than 1,000 veterans in hosting a special visit to their memorial. The 
flight on September 29, 2012, will mark the 10th and final flight for 
the program.
  I would like to first recognize the Volusia County Rotary Clubs who 
helped arrange and underwrite this program. Let me also pay special 
tribute to Volusia Honor Air Chairman Bill Mancinik for his leadership 
and the countless others whose services and donations have been 
essential to making the program such an overwhelming success.
  While it is impossible to list every guardian who accompanied the 
veterans, I would like to thank each and every one of them for their 
time and dedication in honoring these heroes.
  However, I would like to specifically name the leaders of each flight 
and those committee members whose tireless efforts in organizing these 
intricate trips to Washington have made the events go so smoothly.
  The leaders of the ten flights are Chairman Bill Mancinik, Ray 
Heffington, Mike Hill, Bernadette Britz-Parker, Brad Strickland, Roger 
Baumgartner, Morgan Gilreath, Mike Brooks, Geof Felton and Wayne 
Gordin.
  Serving on the Volusia Honor Air Committee are Chairman Bill 
Mancinik, Jeff Bumb, Mike White, John Cheney, Gloria Denston, Paul 
Goldberg, David Brannon, Russell Kelton, Andy Grose, Bob Lloyd, Mary 
Kay Everts, Judi Whitaker, and Jack Ross.
  As we all know, it takes more than just the dedication of those who 
volunteer; specifically it takes a lot of money to make these events 
happen. Thankfully, the Volusia Honor Air program has had a host of 
generous donors over the years helping to underwrite the expenses for 
our WWII Veterans to make their trip to Washington.
  These generous donors include the County of Volusia, Florida, the 
Paul B. and Constance D. Hunter Charitable Foundation, Inc., Embry-
Riddle Aeronautical University, Cambata Aviation International, LLC, 
Florida Game Promotions, LLC, Coggins Auto Group, American Legion Posts 
and Auxiliaries, VFW Posts and Auxiliaries, the Rotary Club of Daytona 
Beach, the DeLand Breakfast Rotary, R. Michael Hill, Staed Family 
Associates, Steve and Bernadette Parker, the Rotary Club of DeLand, the 
Rotary Club of Downtown DeLand, Daytona State College, Morgan and Beth 
Gilreath, Meeting Matters Plus, Inc., TD Bank, Wayne Gordin, Homewood 
Suites by Hilton, the DeLand Elks #1463, Conrad Yelvington, Majors 
Medical Supply, Inc., Sweetwater Medical Central, Halifax Hospital, and 
Florida Hospital in Ormond Beach.
  It has been my honor and pleasure to accompany our veterans during 
most of these trips to Washington and I will always remember the 
satisfaction, joy and solace I have witnessed in these remarkable men 
and women and often their family members as they visited our most 
cherished memorials in our nation's capital.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing and congratulating the 
Volusia Honor Air Program and the service of all of our World War II 
veterans.

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