[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 77 (Monday, May 16, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E703]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




HONORING 20 WORLD WAR II VETERANS FROM OREGON FOR THEIR HONOR FLIGHT TO 
                          THE NATION'S CAPITAL

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. GREG WALDEN

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 16, 2016

  Mr. WALDEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the 20 World War II 
veterans from Oregon who will be visiting their memorial today in 
Washington, D.C. through Honor Flight of Oregon. On behalf of a 
grateful state and country, we welcome these heroes to our nation's 
capital.
   This particular Honor Flight brings us 20 World War II veterans from 
13 cities and towns in Oregon representing every branch of the 
military. Infantrymen, mechanics, operators, cutters, flight crew, 
pilots, seamen . . . each of these brave Americans deserves our 
everlasting thanks for their contributions to the war effort, and for 
their sacrifice on behalf of our liberty.
   The veterans on this flight from Oregon are as follows: Robert 
Kukuska, Army; Arthur Lyons, Army; Walter Young, Army; Cecil Coleman, 
Army Air Force; Michael W. Foree, Army Air Force; Carl Maier, Army Air 
Force; Gordon Halsten, Coast Guard; Robert Bennett, Marines; Earl 
Giggers, Merchant Marines; Jack Alsup, Navy; Oral Fitts, Navy; John 
Hilderbrand, Navy; Robert Lazzarini, Navy; Virgil Luksan, Navy; James 
Smith, Navy; Howard Winegarden, Navy; Verl Middlesworth, Navy; Eugene 
Wellman, Navy Reserve; Wayne Harris, Navy Seabees; and Howard Graul, 
Navy Seabees.
   These 20 heroes join the estimated 20,000-25,000 veterans who will 
travel to Washington, D.C. from their home states in 2016, adding to 
the more than 150,000 veterans who have been honored through the Honor 
Flight Network of volunteers nationwide since 2005.
   Mr. Speaker, each of us is humbled by the courage of these veterans 
who put themselves in harm's way for our country and way of life. As a 
nation, we can never fully repay the debt of gratitude owed to them for 
their honor, commitment, and sacrifice in defense of the freedoms we 
have today.
   My colleagues, please join me in thanking these veterans and the 
volunteers of the Bend Heroes Foundation and Honor Flight of Oregon for 
their exemplary dedication and service to this great country.

                          ____________________