[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 89 (Tuesday, June 7, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E832]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  RECOGNIZING THE BLUE SKY FOUNDATION

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. LAMAR SMITH

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 7, 2016

  Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, today I want to recognize the Blue 
Sky Foundation and their President and Executive Director, Dick 
Stockton, on behalf of the work they are doing for our nation's 
veterans and servicemembers.
   Drawing on his background in tennis, Mr. Stockton started a program 
within the Blue Sky Foundation called Thanking our Troops through 
Tennis or ``T3''. The idea behind the program was to thank the members 
of the United States Military and their families for the sacrifices 
they make on a daily basis, using the game of tennis as the vehicle to 
do so. Blue Sky has been taking the T3 program to various military 
bases over the last four years and has offered free tennis clinics to 
active personnel, spouses, children, Veterans and Wounded Warriors.
   The program has been well received, averaging 100 participants per 
event. Since July of 2013, Blue Sky Foundation has hosted seventeen 
events at different bases around the country, including Andrews Air 
Force Base, Fort Bragg, Fort Benning, Camp Lejeune, Randolph Air Force 
Base and Fort Jackson, among others. It has been a successful program 
and has the ability to continue to grow and benefit many more members 
of the military and their families.
   In appreciation of all they have done, Mr. Speaker, I ask that my 
colleagues join me in thanking them for their efforts.

                          ____________________