[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 23 (Thursday, February 6, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E181]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                        HONORING MR. TOM KAISER

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, February 6, 2014

  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Tom 
Kaiser, a veteran and member of America's Greatest Generation. Tom is a 
resident of Delray Beach, Florida, and has helped more than 500 South 
Florida veterans receive government awards and medals for their 
military service.
  Thanks to Tom's dedication, veterans who helped to liberate France in 
WWII regularly are presented the Legion of Honor in special ceremonies 
by France's Consuls General from Miami. One of the men receiving this 
prestigious award is a Holocaust survivor who, after making it out of 
France, moved to the United States and served America in the Korean 
War.
  Aside from helping veterans, Tom has also been instrumental in 
getting 22 war monuments placed at Boynton Beach's Veteran's Park. 
There are monuments dedicated to the Tuskegee Airmen, Korean War and 
other famous veterans and battles. Tom chairs the Boynton Beach 
Veteran's Council. Together with Ray Carter, the city's Fire Chief, he 
recently unveiled a memorial to the victims of 9/11 at the park. Tom 
noted at the ceremony that, ``it makes the park a history lesson, so 
that anytime of the year people can come and reflect.''
  A humble man, Tom would be reluctant to accept the title of hero, but 
that is what he is to all the veterans who have gotten the recognition 
they deserve due to his efforts.
  Mr. Speaker, the term Greatest Generation was created to describe Tom 
and others like him, who served our country so bravely. I am very 
pleased to honor him on this day.