[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 11 (Friday, January 13, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E29]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                  HONORING THE SERVICE OF KAHNE LOFTUS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. MARILYN STRICKLAND

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, January 13, 2023

  Ms. STRICKLAND. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the hardwork of 
Kahne Loftus, an extraordinary young citizen in Washington State who 
has worked to honor the sacrifices made by members of the nation's 
armed forces.
  Kahne, a 17-year-old from Rainier Washington, has sent collected 
items and care packages to several hundred service members over the 
last 5 years. Kahne's humility and initiative are truly admirable, 
especially because he started this amazing service to to cope with the 
loss of a family member.
  In October 2016, Kahne's uncle and a man with a deep influence on 
Kahne's life, Derek Harris, passed away unexpectedly in his sleep. The 
loss of his uncle Derek was a significant challenge for Kahne as he 
found himself confronted by the death of someone close to him for the 
first time. Struck by the difficulty of watching her son grieve, 
Kahne's mother contacted a family friend in the armed forces who in 
turn connected Kahne with a soldier named Chad who was stationed in 
Afghanistan. The 2 began to write letters to each other, which helped 
Kahne heal from the loss of his uncle Derek.
  Through this correspondence, Kahne learned more about the military 
and life as a service member overseas. He was surprised to learn that 
service members stationed abroad are unable to travel home and visit 
loved ones over the holidays. Kahne was immediately motivated to act 
and proceeded to collect donations and gather items that could be sent 
to our nations heroes. Since starting Kahne's Kare Packages in 2017, 
Kahne has sent collected items and care packages to over 800 service 
members overseas. Last year alone. 108 soldiers, airmen 4 K-9 working 
dogs and their handlers received care packages. To fund the cost of the 
shipping for his packages, his largest cost, he sells woodworking 
projects, hosts fundraisers, and gathers donations from members of the 
community.
  Mr. Speaker, Kahne Loftus exemplifies deep humility, hard work, and 
selfless service to others. Kahne is an exemplary resident of 
Washington's South Sound and serves as a reminder that each of us can 
contribute to the recognition of our men and women in the Armed Forces. 
I am proud and honored to recognize Kahne Loftus.

                          ____________________