[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 93 (Wednesday, June 26, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E981]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            HONORING THE MEMORY OF LT. COL. FRANK BLACKBURN

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. RICHARD L. HANNA

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 26, 2013

  Mr. HANNA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of a great 
American, Lt. Col. Frank Blackburn, of Rome, NY, who will be buried 
with full military honors in Arlington National Cemetery on Thursday, 
27 June, 2013. Lt. Col. Blackburn was commissioned as a second 
lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force in December 1953 after completing 
flight training school in Texas. He graduated from Syracuse University.
  Lt. Col. Blackburn had a distinguished flying career with the Air 
Force. He was stationed in Korea following the war with the 405th 
Fighter-Bomber Wing at Langley, VA; with the 353rd Tactical Fighter 
Squadron in Myrtle Beach, SC; as a missile crew commander in Sembach, 
Germany; and with the 37th Tactical Fighter wing in Vietnam from 1968 
to 1969, as a forward air controller. He rose to the rank of Lieutenant 
Colonel and retired from the service in 1972. While in the Air Force, 
Frank piloted many of the nation's earliest and most important jet 
aircraft, including the F-84, F-86 Sabre and the F100 Super Sabre.
  Lt. Col. Blackburn earned numerous commendations, including: the 
Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, National Defense Service 
Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, Korean Service Medal, United Nations 
Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Air Force Longevity Service Award 
with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Distinguished Unit Citation, Air Force 
Expeditionary Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Small Arms Expert 
Marksman Ribbon, Vietnam Service Medal with one Bronze Service Star, 
Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, and Air 
Force Medal.
  He followed this career with 25 years of service at PAR Technology 
Corp. in Rome, NY where his responsibilities included operations, 
purchasing, and security. He and his wife, Donna Logan Blackburn raised 
five children: Wendy, James, Debra, David and Andrea. Lt. Col. 
Blackburn served as a council member, elder and Sunday School teacher 
at St. John Lutheran Church in Rome and he was a member of the Retired 
Officers Association and a past member of the Rome Kiwanis Club.
  Mr. Speaker, Lt. Col. Blackburn was a 20-year career U.S. Air Force 
officer, a dedicated husband, father, grandfather and member of his 
community. Let us honor him as a true American patriot. May his memory 
never be forgotten.

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