[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 156 (Thursday, September 28, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1293]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         HONOR FLIGHT OF OREGON

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. GREG WALDEN

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 28, 2017

  Mr. WALDEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the twenty World War II 
veterans and one Korean War veteran from Oregon who are visiting their 
memorial on the National Mall on Saturday, September 30th, 2017 through 
Honor Flight of Oregon. Every time I have the chance to meet one of 
these heroes from the ``Greatest Generation,'' I am reminded of the 
poignant words of General Dwight D. Eisenhower. In a message to Allied 
troops just before D-Day, he said, ``The eyes of the world are upon 
you. The hopes and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march 
with you.''
  He was right then, of course, Mr. Speaker. But over seventy years 
later, liberty-loving people everywhere continue to owe these heroes 
for their extraordinary service and their incredible stories of 
sacrifice and bravery on behalf of our country. That's why it is my 
privilege to enter their names into the Congressional Record today.
  The veterans on this Honor Flight from Oregon are as follows: William 
Cochran, Army; Warren Davis, Army; Richard Fultineer, Army; William 
Johnson, Army; John Ritz, Army; Jack Downs, Army Air Force; Lawrence 
Willis, Army Air Force; Charles Kriegh, Marine Corps; Hiram Underwood, 
Marine Corps; Harry Howard Jr., Merchant Marine; John Webber, Merchant 
Marine; Raymond Ayers, Navy; Ernest Gallo, Navy; Paul Gessford, Navy; 
Lawrence Horton, Navy; Stanley Luther, Navy; Lester Manosar, Navy; 
Harold Simpson Sr., Navy; Orville Stoltz, Navy; Gerhard Tank, Navy; and 
Paul Vincent, Navy.
  These twenty-one heroes join over 150,000 veterans who have been 
honored through the Honor Flight Network of volunteers nationwide since 
2005.
  I would also like to recognize the fourteen guardians traveling on 
this trip who have also served our country: Leon Clay Jr., Air Force; 
Charles Wills, Air Force; Ronald Kohl, Army and Air Force; Lyle 
Gessford, Army; Steven Howard, Army; Terry Wynkoop, Army; Gordon Wood, 
Marine Corps; Laurie Dutton, Navy; Terry Haines, Navy; David Haines, 
Navy; Chester Johnson, Navy; Larry Kennedy, Navy; Richard Santillie, 
Navy; and Tanya Wilson, Navy.
  I would also like to recognize Richard Wing Jr., who served our 
Veterans for 36 years as an RN at the VA Hospital, in Palo Alto, 
California.
  And, of course, none of this would be possible without Gail Yakopatz, 
the longtime President of Honor Flight of Oregon. Gail has assisted 
hundreds of veterans, has been a tireless advocate for Oregon's 
veterans and is someone I am proud to call my friend!
  Mr. Speaker, at the height of the Civil War in 1863, President 
Abraham Lincoln wrote, ``Honor to the Soldier, and Sailor everywhere, 
who bravely bears his country's cause.'' Each of us in this Chamber and 
in this nation should be humbled by the courage of these brave 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 Honor Flight of Oregon for their exemplary dedication and 
service to this great country.

                          ____________________