[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 82 (Thursday, May 15, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E435]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            RECOGNIZING THE HONOR FLIGHT OF SOUTHERN OREGON

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. CLIFF BENTZ

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 15, 2025

  Mr. BENTZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Korean and 
Vietnam War veterans from Oregon's Second Congressional District who, 
are visiting their memorials and the WWII Memorial, because of the 
efforts of the Honor Flight of Southern Oregon. Whenever I have the 
opportunity to meet these heroes, I am reminded of the words of 
President Abraham Lincoln: ``The struggle of today, is not altogether 
for today, it is for a vast future also.'' Our veterans embody this 
spirit, having fought valiantly in the Korean and Vietnam Wars. Their 
courage and dedication remind us that the price of liberty is high. It 
is my privilege to include their names in the Record.

       Veterans on this Honor Flight from Oregon are: Russell 
     Bronson, Joyce Button, JoAnn Compton Taplin, James Dahl, Chad 
     Davenport, Thomas Davis, David Ford, Jerry Fraley, Thomas 
     Garland, Larry Grow, Eldon Hendrix, Orville Houston, John 
     James, William Kendrick, William Koreger, Walter Lindner, 
     James Little, Kenneth Montgomery, Dennis Paul, Richard 
     Seehawer, Patrick Smith, Gelacio Valdez, Walter Vaughan, 
     Robert Verlezza, and Allen Ayers. We especially honor the 
     memory of Danyl H. Christianer, whose legacy of service will 
     live on through this tribute.

  These heroes join over 250,000 Veterans who have been honored through 
the nationwide Honor Flight Network of volunteers, since 2005.
  Mr. Speaker, President George W. Bush once said, ``We have been the 
recipients of the greatest blessings of liberty ever known to man. We 
live in freedom because others have made the ultimate sacrifice. As a 
Nation, we must never take for granted, the liberties we enjoy today, 
recognizing that these freedoms have been hard-won by the honor, 
commitment, and sacrifice of our Veterans. Each Member in this chamber 
and every citizen in these United States should be humbled by the 
courage of our brave Veterans who voluntarily faced danger and 
adversity to preserve our country and our way of life. Colleagues, 
please join me in thanking these Veterans and the volunteers of Honor 
Flight of Southern Oregon for their remarkable service and devotion to 
our great country.

                          ____________________