[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 128 (Wednesday, September 25, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1372]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                TRIBUTE TO TEXAS PANHANDLE HONOR FLIGHT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. MAC THORNBERRY

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 25, 2013

  Mr. THORNBERRY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the 102 veterans 
from Texas who visited Washington, D.C. last week with the Texas 
Panhandle Honor Flight. My wife, Sally, and I had the distinct pleasure 
of welcoming these heroes to the Capitol building.
   The veterans on this flight were: Accurso, Charles; Anders, Troy; 
Ash, David; Austin, Carlos; Bailey, Bruce; Barbee, J.G.; Barron, Bobby; 
Berend, Raymond; Blackburn, Gerald; Blevins, Howard; Box, Kenneth; 
Burch, Darrell; Burgess, E.R.; Carter, Terry; Chadwick, James; Chester, 
Joe; Cobb, Steven; Cornelius, Gayle; Counsellar, William; Creek, James; 
Davis, Ervin; Denman, Roy; Dibala, Daniel; Dickerman, Lesley; Dill, 
Kenneth; Ebeling, Marshall; Enevoldsen, Jerome; Perez, Frank; Fisher, 
Robert; Fowler, Jimmy; Gamble, Rupert; Garcia, Edward; Garner, Olin; 
George, Aubrey; Gibson, Walter; Glosson, Paul; Graham, Lester; 
Greathouse, William; Henning, Gary; Hetrick, John; Higley, Richard; 
Holland, Hugh; Holland, Otis; Holland, Buford; Horn, Olan; Irwen, Joe; 
James, Kelsey; Jenssen, Dan; Kirby, Freddy; Knuchel, Mike; Larned, 
James; Lewis, Herbert; Lynch, Earl; Macias, Valentin; Mann, Joe Bob; 
Mann, Bobby Joe; Martin, Gerald; McNally, Peter; Miller, Gene; Miller, 
Alton; Miller, Douglas; Moore, Jerry; Morton, Elwyn; Nurek, Steven; 
Ogle, Ronald; Parsons, Leonard; Peach, James; Penn, Billy; Pohlmeier, 
Gregory; Rakes, Edwin; Reed, James; Ricks, Don; Rider, Gary; Rider, 
Emery; Ridgway, Wendell; Riggins, Hubert; Ritter, Henry; Robinett, 
Thomas; Robinson, Jack; Robinson, Joe; Rogers, Garlon; Romo, Jesse; 
Roybal, Roberto; Smith, Stacey; Smith, Donald; Sollis, J.W.; Spell, 
Dalton; Stoops, Richard; Todd, Kenneth; Tomme, Michael; Trosper, Oscar; 
Waller, Jack; Warren, Bobby; Werschky, Samuel; Werschky, Carlton; 
Wetsel, Todd; Whiteley, George; Willingham, Randall; Willis, Howard; 
Wilson, William; York, James; and Yosten, Gilbert.
   I was honored to have the opportunity to visit with these veterans 
and the volunteers who traveled with them and show them around the 
Capitol building, which in many ways is the center of this democracy 
for which they fought. These men and women remind us all of the great 
sacrifices so many generations of Americans have made for our nation 
and the freedoms we hold so dearly. The service they rendered to our 
country can never be fully repaid, but I hope that their visit to 
Washington, D.C. was a reminder of the gratitude and respect we have 
for them.
   Colleagues, please join me in thanking these veterans and their 
families for their exemplary dedication and service to this great 
nation. I want to extend a special thank you to the local communities, 
all of the volunteers, America Supports You Texas, and Mr. Larry Lewis 
for their extensive work in organizing this Honor Flight. This trip 
would not have been possible without all of the financial and emotional 
support from those people.

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