[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 85 (Tuesday, May 20, 2025)]
[House]
[Page H2154]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   RECOGNIZING WINNERS OF 2025 FOURTH DISTRICT CONGRESSIONAL SPEECH 
                              COMPETITION

  (Mr. Alford of Missouri was recognized to address the House for 5 
minutes.)
  Mr. ALFORD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the winners of our 
2025 Fourth Congressional District speech competition for the great 
State of Missouri. This is our second year to do this. It is a great 
competition.
  Our next winner is Lucas Tate, who is a junior at Odessa High School. 
Lucas wrote: ``Freedom is a word that rings loud in the hearts of many 
Americans. We all know what freedom is. We all know what the absence of 
freedom feels like, but what does it mean to stand up for your freedom? 
Standing up for your freedom is not always loud, not always quiet. 
Standing up for your freedom is swimming against the school, looking 
for those who may follow. It is a war cry against the face of tyranny 
and injustice. It is a tough battle, one that we as Americans must be 
proud to face every day because, simply, it is American.''
  Our next winner is Tanner Gill, who is in ninth grade at Raymore-
Peculiar High School. Tanner wrote: ``Standing for freedom means 
protecting the rights and values that make America strong. In our 
country, this means making sure that people have justice, fairness, and 
the ability to speak freely. Everyone can help by being active in their 
community and standing up for what is right. Around the world, the U.S. 
supports freedom by helping people who live under unfair governments by 
promoting democracy. As a leader, America has a responsibility to set 
an example and defend human rights. Standing for freedom isn't just 
about words. It is about action. By respecting our history and working 
to protect freedom, we help make the world a better place.''

  Our next winner is Riley Olendorff, who is a junior at Glasgow High 
School. Riley wrote: ``Standing for freedom is having courage, 
integrity, and speaking out against injustice. Freedom includes 
protecting the rights of others, even when it may be hard and 
challenging. We have to be able to defend our rights for ourselves and 
others when there is risk of being taken away. Freedom is not just 
about personal choices, advocating for fairness, and presenting 
different opinions now and for future generations. Past history has 
presented sacrifices from leaders and soldiers who defend our nations. 
True freedom grows when people are willing to stand up for themselves 
and others. As an American, I am fortunate enough to live in a free 
country, and I stand for what freedom means.''
  I thank everyone who participated in this year's congressional speech 
competition, and I congratulate our winners.


                   Recognizing Alewel's Country Meats

  Mr. ALFORD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Missouri's Fourth 
Congressional District May Small Business of the Month, Alewel's 
Country Meats.
  What better month to highlight this amazing small business than 
National Beef Month?
  What began as a small downtown grocery store in 1932, Alewel's has 
grown into a fixture of Warrensburg's local community.
  This federally inspected meat processing and retail facility 
developed old German recipes to create quality fresh meats and homemade 
specialty products.
  Randy Alewel, the third-generation CEO of Alewel's Country Meats, has 
expanded the facility four times now.
  Today, we congratulate Alewel's Meats and thank them for their 
contributions to Missouri and the Fourth Congressional District.


                       Recognizing Rick Fullerton

  Mr. ALFORD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize our May Veteran of 
the Month, Mr. Rick Fullerton of Independence, Missouri. He is a World 
War II vet and lives at the Missouri Veterans Home in Warrensburg in 
our district.
  Mr. Fullerton attended Smith-Cotton High School in Sedalia and 
graduated in 1945. That September, he began his service in the U.S. 
Army Air Corps. He served as an accountant in Mobile, Alabama, and he 
is so proud of the fact that he was instrumental in making sure our 
servicemen got paid for their sacrifices.
  Mr. Fullerton created a wonderful family with his wife, Betty, and 2 
children, 4 stepchildren, 13 grandchildren, and 8 great-grandchildren.
  I am proud to honor Mr. Fullerton on the floor today, and I thank him 
for his service to our great Nation.

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