[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 64 (Thursday, April 30, 2015)]
[House]
[Pages H2764-H2765]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          HONORING THE ARKANSAS TOWNS OF MAYFLOWER AND VILONIA

  (Mr. HILL asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. HILL. Mr. Speaker, this past Monday, April 27, marked the 1-year 
anniversary of the devastation that occurred when a tornado struck the 
Mayflower, Vilonia, and Paron communities in Arkansas, destroying more 
than 400 homes and costing 16 people their lives. The theme of this 
year's anniversary is, ``Remember our loss, celebrate our recovery.''
  I have had the opportunity to visit with folks in these communities 
and to hear their stories of courage and resilience. While I mourn 
those that are lost, I am thankful for the health and safety of Martin 
and Kristin Patton and the miraculous survival of their family. Their 
home literally disintegrated around them.
  I am thankful for the leadership of Vilonia Mayor James Firestone and 
Mayflower Mayor Randy Holland who, along with county and local leaders, 
are charting a course toward the future. In the face of this tragedy, 
they furnish us with an inspirational model of solidarity and hope.
  I applaud the recovery efforts and dedication of these great Arkansas 
communities.
  Mr. Speaker, the Paron Community in Pulaski County and the Faulkner 
County towns of Vilonia and Mayflower, Arkansas have experienced 
tragedy and disaster over these past years, but their resilience and 
determination to rebuild and recover has never been more prevalent.
  Four years ago, on April 25, 2011, an EF2 tornado struck Vilonia, 
killing four of its 4,000 citizens.
  Not two years after that, on March 29, 2013, the residents of 
Mayflower were left reeling after being flooded with 5,000 barrels of 
heavy crude oil that erupted from the burst Pegasus Pipeline.
  The ability to bounce back after such misfortune is a testament to 
the great determination and toughness of the townspeople of Vilonia and 
Mayflower.
  And that ability was put to yet another test when, on April 27, 2014, 
the Mayflower,

[[Page H2765]]

Vilonia, and Paron communities were struck by a monster of a tornado.
  That tornado was classified as an EF4 with reported winds approaching 
200 miles per hour. The half-mile wide twister left a swath of 
destruction that stretched for over forty miles. In fifty-six minutes, 
more than 400 homes were destroyed and sixteen people lost their lives. 
The National Weather Service stated that this was the single deadliest 
tornado to hit the state of Arkansas since 1968--nearly fifty years 
earlier.
  This past Monday, April 27, marked the one-year anniversary of the 
devastation wrecked during this horrific storm. The theme of this 
year's anniversary is, ``Remember our loss; celebrate our recovery.''
  Over the past few weeks, I have had the opportunity to visit with 
folks from Mayflower and Vilonia and to hear their stories of courage 
and resilience.
  While I mourn those lost in the April 2014 tornados, I am thankful 
for the health and safety of Martin and Kristin Patton and the 
miraculous survival of their family. Their home literally completely 
disintegrated around them and I certainly join them in counting their 
blessings of moving into their new home last weekend, 364 days after 
that frightening evening.
  I am thankful of the leadership of Vilonia Mayor James Firestone on 
the job for six and one half years; four of them in a ``recovery 
mode.'' I am grateful for his leadership with that of the city council 
in carefully charting a course toward the future.
  I am thankful for Mayflower Mayor Randy Holland, who, with county and 
local leaders, is crafting new economic development directions for this 
growing community.
  In the face of tragedy, they, along with all those who selflessly 
provided financial support and thousands of volunteer hours, furnish us 
with an inspirational model of solidarity and hope.
  As these brave communities continue to recover and rebuild, I applaud 
them for their dedication to their neighbors, economy, and community.

                          ____________________