[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 54 (Monday, April 11, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E395]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                        TRIBUTE TO RYANNE MULLEN

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. DAVID YOUNG

                                of iowa

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 11, 2016

  Mr. YOUNG of Iowa. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and 
congratulate Ryanne Mullen of Villisca, Iowa, for being awarded first 
place for her outstanding essay honoring our military veterans by the 
Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of Iowa. Ryanne is a student at 
Enarson Elementary in Villisca, Iowa.
  The theme for this essay contest was ``What Does A Veteran Mean To 
Me?'', and was open to all fifth graders in public, private, and home 
schools throughout Iowa.
  Ryanne's essay reads:

       I deeply thought about what a veteran means to me. I have 
     chosen to share emotional descriptions of what a veteran 
     means to me. The initial meaning of a veteran to me is how 
     fear is considered, understood, and accepted but they still 
     make the decision to face this fear for the freedom of their 
     families and all other families they are standing strong for.
       The second meaning of a veteran to me is courage. The 
     attitude of never giving up, never backing down, and always 
     remaining faithful. These are characteristics of semper 
     fidelis.
       The third meaning I want to express is brotherhood, which 
     is described as equally caring for the life of your fellow 
     soldier. The fact that no one is left behind especially the 
     veterans that are KIA, MIA, or POW. I will carry memories of 
     them with me forever.

  Mr. Speaker, I applaud and congratulate Ryanne for earning this 
award. It is because of Iowans like her that I'm proud to represent our 
great state. I ask that my colleagues in the United States House of 
Representatives join me in congratulating Ryanne for writing this 
outstanding essay honoring our veterans. I wish her nothing but 
continued success in all she does.

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