[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 172 (Friday, October 1, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1055]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                  HONORING HOLLY'S HISTORY OF SERVICE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ELISSA SLOTKIN

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 30, 2021

  Ms. SLOTKIN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize my little town 
of Holly and, in particular, its commitment to its men and women who 
have served in uniform. I am especially proud to commemorate the Holly 
Area Veterans Resource Center and its dedicated members as they host a 
Welcome Home event tomorrow for our troops and their families.
  Holly's track record of service isn't limited to just one event on 
one day--far from it. Our village's commitment is absolute, as 
evidenced by the namesake of the community center where the Veterans' 
Resource Center holds its events: Lt. Karl Richter.
  As a 23-year-old officer in the Air Force, Lt. Richter became the 
youngest pilot to shoot down a MiG over Vietnam. He would eventually 
fly 198 missions--the most out of any airman at the time--and would 
ultimately earn the Air Force Cross, the Silver Star, and Purple Heart 
for his valor.
  Lt. Richter was born and raised in Holly, and the legacy of service 
that he exemplified continues to live on in our community. The old oak 
tree in the parking lot of Holly Elementary School is ringed by dozens 
of yellow ribbons noting which of our hometown heroes are on active 
duty. Holly is also home to the Great Lakes National Cemetery, where 
over fifty-thousand of our nation's veterans and their family members 
have been laid to rest. At their military funerals, it's common to see 
a joint honor guard of Holly VFW and American Legion members carry on 
their traditions with a performance.
  Lastly, together with local leaders and veterans groups, my team led 
an effort to rename our local post office. I believe service is the 
greatest love letter you can send your country, and at the Holly 
Veterans Memorial Post Office, we will soon be able to pay tribute to 
that service each time we send letters of our own.
  In short, Holly is a place that knows its veterans. We're proud to 
stand with them throughout their entire careers--from that first bus 
that takes them to boot camp until their retirement and beyond. After 
all, when we send folks to fight for us, we have a responsibility to 
care for them and their loved ones for the rest of their lives.
  That said, we know that the return to civilian life can be difficult. 
With its Welcome Home event tomorrow, Holly honors the service and 
sacrifice of veterans and their families. With a parade, food trucks, 
and live music, we will celebrate the folks who stepped up to serve our 
nation. And through a commemorative pinning for any veteran who served 
from 1955 to 1975, we will thank them for their willingness to risk 
life and limb to defend our way of life.
  Representing Holly is one of the greatest privileges of my life. I'm 
proud to honor Holly, so that its legacy of service can forever be 
remembered.

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