[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 3 (Thursday, January 8, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E36]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 REDESIGNATION OF THE 209TH SPECIAL OPERATIONS CIVIL ENGINEER SQUADRON

                                  _____
                                 

                         HON. STEVEN M. PALAZZO

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 8, 2015

  Mr. PALAZZO. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress and 
as a fellow member of the Mississippi National Guard, it is my pleasure 
to welcome and congratulate the brave men and women of the 209th Civil 
Engineer Squadron. The airmen who stand before you today are unique 
professionals who have answered the nation's call to support and defend 
our great nation and state. Today's ceremony truly represents the next 
chapter in a storied legacy of ``Americans at their best.''
  Since 1969, the 209th Civilian Engineer Squadron has served our State 
with honor and distinction and for more than a decade, worked shoulder-
to-shoulder with the Special Operations community. These airmen have 
provided world class support services and civil engineering teams 
during crisis response operations all around the globe. Today's 
redesignation ceremony officially recognizes your skills, talents and 
esprit de corps . . . the hallmark of the Special Operations community.
  As the new colors are uncased, you will carry on a long lineage of 
Special Operations units, who for nearly a century have operated at the 
tip of the spear and in harm's way. Most recently, our special 
operators have played key roles in Operations Iraqi Freedom and 
Enduring Freedom, as well as provided significant efforts toward 
humanitarian operations in Africa and counter-narcotics missions in 
South America. Within our own shores, National Guard Special Forces 
have responded to the devastating effects of natural disasters, 
providing unique resources and personal commitment to aid their fellow 
Americans.
  I'd like to send a special thanks to our military families. The 
preparedness of our airmen is only possible through the loving support 
of our immediate and extended families, who keep our households running 
during the uncertainty of deployments.
  Congratulations again to our unit leaders and airmen! As we look 
toward the future, the world isn't getting any safer. Your skills, 
talents, will remain in high demand. Through perseverance, hard work 
and training, the 209th Special Operations Civil Engineer Squadron will 
remain ready, strategically mobile and postured to respond to crisis at 
home and abroad.

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