[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 171 (Wednesday, December 4, 2013)]
[House]
[Pages H7458-H7459]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            FARMINGTON: MINNESOTA'S FIRST YELLOW RIBBON CITY

  (Mr. KLINE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. KLINE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Farmington's 
commitment to our veterans and the community's 5-year anniversary of 
being named Minnesota's first Yellow Ribbon City.
  When I first championed legislation to make the Minnesota National 
Guard's invaluable Yellow Ribbon reintegration program available 
nationwide, one of the pillars of this initiative was to increase 
awareness among communities and local organizations to improve 
relationships between veterans and their communities.
  Mr. Speaker, the people of Farmington understand the important role a 
community plays in the successful reintegration of our troops returning 
home. Farmington built a model Yellow Ribbon organization centered 
around relationships with neighbors, veterans organizations, and local, 
State, and Federal leaders. Farmington rallied around the needs of area 
veterans and their families by hosting monthly dinners for veterans and 
holiday cookie walks. You can't beat that.
  As their Yellow Ribbon organization grew and their efforts expanded, 
they recognized success and shared those best practices with other 
inspired communities, leaving their Yellow Ribbon fingerprint across 
the great State of Minnesota.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today not simply to recognize Farmington on this 
5-year anniversary, but to thank the entire community for being a 
Yellow Ribbon trailblazer and for demonstrating their continued 
commitment to our servicemembers, veterans, and their families. As the 
Farmington Yellow Ribbon honors our sons and daughters in uniform,

[[Page H7459]]

I would like to honor them. And I salute the entire community of 
Farmington, Minnesota, for helping with that noble cause.

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