[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 93 (Wednesday, June 6, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H4779-H4780]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      126TH AIR REFUELING WING DAY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Bost) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the important 
efforts of the 126th Air Refueling Wing at Scott Air Force Base in St. 
Clair County, Illinois.
  On June 2, I celebrated the many achievements of this unit when I 
attended the 126th Air Refueling Wing Day, which was done by 
proclamation by the Governor of the State of Illinois.
  The 126th Air Refueling Wing routinely succeeds in its missions of 
providing immediate, sustained, long-range air refueling of both 
nuclear and conventional aircraft for both the U.S. Armed Forces and 
NATO allies.
  The 126th Air Refueling Wing has more than 1,000 Air National Guard 
Active Duty United States Air Force personnel, who recently received 
its eighth Air Force Outstanding Unit Award for service provided from 
December 2014 through December 2016.
  The servicemembers of the 126th Air Refueling Wing routinely 
demonstrate their excellence in performance while supporting the United 
States Air Force operations.
  The significant awards and recognition the 126th Illinois Air 
National Guard has received sets the foundational framework for being a 
strong center of excellence for military aircraft.
  I am proud of their hard work and dedication to ensuring the best 
aircraft maintenance and repair work is done at Scott Air Force Base.
  Our national defense depends on having our military aircraft able to 
fly in a moment's notice, so the work that they do every day is 
critical in keeping all of us safe at home.


             Recognizing Wilber Hesterberg's 100th Birthday

  Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Wilber ``Whip'' 
Hesterberg of Maeystown, Illinois, who will turn 100 years old on June 
24.
  Whip worked for A&P Food Stores for many years, was a Teamster, and 
served in the Army for 4 years.
  He likes to camp, garden, and do word searches. He can also still be 
seen driving around town slowly, it is reported.
  Family and neighbors say he is ``loved by everyone.''
  Every Wednesday night, Whip continues to host a family dinner at his 
house with some of his five children, 17 grandchildren, 24 great-
grandchildren.
  This year, Whip will be honored as the Grand Marshal of Maeystown 
Homecoming celebration on June 15 and 16.
  Whip, southern Illinois wishes you a happy 100th birthday.


            100th Anniversary of the Battle of Belleau Wood

  Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I also rise today and feel it is very 
important that we recognize and remember that today is D-day, but also 
that 100 years ago today was the battle of Belleau Wood in the First 
World War, where the Marines earned the title of Devil Dogs.
  It was a very, very hard fought battle. We must remember that freedom 
is not free. So when we recognize not only D-day, but 100 years since 
that time on that day, we lost 1,086 Marines.


                     Happy Birthday, Matt McAuliffe

  Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I also want to recognize today someone who 
works in my office that everyone looks up to, because he is so tall, is 
my chief of staff, and it is his birthday, Matt McAuliffe. Happy 
birthday.

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