[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 183 (Monday, November 6, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S5349]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



           Recognizing the Dean Welsh VFW Auxiliary Post 4370

  Mr. GRASSLEY. Madam President, this week is the week that we honor 
veterans, on what we call Veterans Day, so in honor of Veterans Day, I 
would like to spotlight one Iowa community's exemplary support of our 
veterans and Active-Duty military.
  This is a town of 2,000--Britt, IA--in North Central Iowa. This year, 
Britt's Dean Welsh VFW Auxiliary Post 4370 received the Veterans and 
Family Support Award. This annual award from the national VFW 
recognizes select local auxiliaries for their exceptional work for our 
servicemembers.
  This community's now-far-reaching efforts started with a phone call. 
A volunteer with the Britt VFW auxiliary was talking to her 
granddaughter, who was serving on the USS Oscar Austin. She mentioned 
that some of her fellow crew members hadn't received care packages. 
Within 1 week, Britt residents shipped 39 packages to that crew of the 
USS Oscar Austin.
  That was 11 years ago. Now, a decade later, the Britt VFW is sending 
care packages to crew members on the USS Fitzgerald, USS John McCain, 
USS Chafee, and Iowa National Guard units deployed to Kuwait and to 
Poland. They are also preparing to send packages to the USS Carl 
Vinson. Volunteers fill these packages with various items, including 
beaded American flag key chains that they make by hand. Britt VFW 
members gift thousands of their key chains to veterans they cross paths 
with throughout the year, whether at community events or even in their 
daily lives.
  Britt VFW's example should be a reminder to all of us of the 
importance of honoring our veterans and servicemembers, and we will be 
doing that this weekend.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
  The bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. CORNYN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.