[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 193 (Tuesday, December 13, 2022)]
[House]
[Page H9697]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              RECOGNIZING COLD WAR RADAR STATION VETERANS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Babin) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the tens of 
thousands of veterans who served on radar stations across the world 
during the Cold War.
  From 1947 to 1991, American servicemembers faced extremely 
challenging climates and conditions in the most isolated locations to 
successfully mitigate threats from the Soviet Union to ensure the 
maintenance of peace.
  These veterans were highly trained and from every United States 
military branch, including the National Guard and Reserve units. They 
were also supported by allied forces and civilians, as well.
  These brave watch guards were on a mission of the utmost importance 
to detect, track, intercept, and destroy hostile airborne intruders 
when they entered the free world airspace.
  Although the protection of allied airspace was successful following 
the end of the Cold War, the United States never officially recognized 
the countless hours of surveillance that these servicemembers provided 
to our country and the world.
  Several years ago, a dedicated group of Air Force Cold War-era radar 
station veterans formed a nonprofit organization to raise funds for the 
construction of a monument commemorating their fellow servicemembers' 
sacrifices.
  The monument was unveiled on November 7, 2019, at Wright-Patterson 
Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio, with some 100 veterans and their family 
members in attendance.
  Today, I thank these veterans for their service during such a tense 
and a turbulent time in our history. Their dedication to our security 
and the prosperity of peace never wavered an iota.
  As a veteran stationed in Germany during the Cold War, I can relate 
to many of the sacrifices that these courageous individuals made, and I 
am forever grateful for them.
  I include in the Record a letter by one of the United States Air 
Force Radar Station Veterans Monument Association founders, 1st 
Lieutenant James E. Muecke, which contains more information about the 
hard work that went into making the dream of a monument into a reality.

                    Radar Station Veterans Monument

       Several years ago, three Air Force veterans who served on 
     various radar stations during the Cold War began discussing 
     how to honor their service and others who held the same job. 
     A monument was suggested, but they lacked funding and a 
     location. Washington, D.C., was thought to be the most 
     obvious location choice, but given how long it took to 
     construct the World War II Memorial, they decided to look 
     elsewhere. After many discussions with their fellow veterans, 
     they formed a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization called the 
     United States Air Force (USAF) Radar Station Veterans 
     Monument Association. Five veterans volunteered to serve as 
     officers for the association, and 26 agreed to become board 
     members.
       Once the association was formed, donations were sought from 
     many Cold War-era manufacturers and suppliers of radar 
     equipment. Unfortunately, most were out of business or had 
     merged with other companies. As a result, the association 
     contacted as many radar station veterans as possible to ask 
     for their donations for the monument. Eventually, the 
     National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-
     Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio, was selected as the 
     location for the monument's placement. The museum indicated 
     that the project would cost approximately $30,000. After much 
     aid from their fellow veterans, they raised $43,000.
       When designing the monument, their goal was to educate the 
     public in an appealing way. They decided on a monument made 
     from black granite stone, with images of 23 radar sites 
     etched into it. A mission statement and description of the 
     radar station operating conditions were inscribed on the 
     front, and a globe sat on top, symbolizing worldwide 
     involvement. The monument was completed and placed in section 
     two of Memorial Park at the National Museum of the United 
     States Air Force. The dedication ceremony was held on 
     November 7, 2019, with some 100 veterans and family members 
     in attendance. It was an outstanding program; the Air Force 
     honor guard members gave a flag presentation. After the 
     program, the USAF Radar Station Veterans Monument Association 
     members formally turned the monument over to the museum.
       Following the ceremony, an evening banquet was held, and 
     the association's officers were recognized for their work in 
     commissioning the monument. They received a standing ovation. 
     All officers were presented with a framed picture of the 
     monument, the USAF Radar Station Veterans Monument 
     Association's logo, and a statement of appreciation.
       This is just one example of what it means to be a United 
     States veteran: We are loyal, are proud to have served this 
     great country, and can still stand tall for a monument 
     dedicated to this purpose. We give a proud hand salute to all 
     who attended, to those who could not attend because of 
     distance or health, and especially to those who served but 
     are no longer with us.
                                         1st. Lt. James E. Muecke.

  Mr. BABIN. May God bless these heroes and may history remember them.

                          ____________________