[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 96 (Thursday, June 5, 2025)]
[House]
[Pages H2477-H2478]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING JOHN THRASHER

  (Mr. Patronis of Florida was recognized to address the House for 5 
minutes.)
  Mr. PATRONIS. Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I rise to 
honor a true statesman, a patriot, and a proud son of the State of 
Florida, Speaker John Thrasher.
  Speaker Thrasher's story is a kind that people don't see anymore. He 
was a U.S. Army veteran who served in Vietnam, a lawyer, a leader, and 
someone who never forgot where he came from. He rose from humble 
beginnings to become one of the most influential public servants the 
State of Florida has ever known.
  As speaker of the Florida House, he got our State through challenging 
times with courage and principle. As a State senator, he fought for 
Florida's families, stood up for what was right, even when it wasn't 
easy. As president of Florida State University, he poured his heart 
into shaping the lives of young people, lifting up the next generation 
with the same integrity and drive that defined his own life.
  To those who knew Speaker Thrasher, it was more than a resume. When 
he walked into a room, he had room presence. He was respected. He was 
loyal, tough as nails when he had to be, but always with a 
servant's heart.

  I was proud to call him a friend, a mentor. I admired the way he led 
with grace under pressure and with an unshakeable love for Florida and 
our country.
  This Congress and the State of Florida mourns with his wife, Jean; 
their children; their grandchildren; and we thank them for sharing 
their John with us.
  He made our State stronger, and Florida will carry forward the values 
that he lived by.


         Paying Tribute to the 250th Anniversary of DAR and SAR

  Mr. PATRONIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to our 
Nation's 250th anniversary of two distinguished societies that are 
crucial to our many activities in Florida which celebrate our founding.
  The national, State, and local members of both the Daughters of the 
American Revolution and the Sons of the American Revolution are direct 
blood descendants of patriots who fought and aided our American 
Revolution or held political or civil positions in our very first 
government.
  Back at home in the district, the Emerald Coast Chapter of the Sons 
of the

[[Page H2478]]

American Revolution and the Choctawhatchee Bay Chapter of the Daughters 
of the American Revolution have been busy gearing up to honor the great 
men and women who gave their all to establish our country.
  I had the honor to join DAR Regent, Daquiri Champion, and SAR 
President, the Honorable Graham Fountain, at the Fort Walton Chamber of 
Commerce as they honored the chamber membership with the DAR America 
250! Commendation and Medal for their campaign of remembrance of 
America's War of Independence.
  Another upcoming event which highlights the women who served in the 
war is in the Okaloosa's Women Veterans Day ceremony which will be held 
at Women Veterans Park on Okaloosa Island.
  One of the eight bronze statues in the park pays tribute to Mrs. 
Margaret Corbin, who fought alongside her husband, who was a 
Continental Army artillery officer. While assisting her husband in the 
Battle of Fort Washington, New York, she took over firing the cannon 
after he was killed by grapeshot fired by British cannon fire. She also 
received serious injuries of her own to her shoulder, chest, and jaw, 
but continued loading and firing the weapon.
  On July 6, 1779, Congress awarded Margaret a lifelong pension for her 
Revolutionary War service.

                              {time}  1045

  This was also the first time America officially recognized a woman's 
military service.
  I urge all Americans to join the DAR and SAR members in paying 
special tribute to this incredible woman whose courage, strength, and 
patriotism rivaled many of her male counterparts.
  In April, a member of the SAR Emerald Coast organized a major workday 
at Old Stewart Cemetery in Laurel Hill, cleaning up the cemetery around 
the grave of Okaloosa's own Revolutionary War soldier, Private Horne, 
giving and paying tribute to Private Horne for his service in the 
founding of the United States of America.
  Mr. Speaker, as I close, I extend a heartfelt thanks and admiration 
to those faithful patriots of our American Revolution who fought and 
died for our great Nation and to their descendants, the members of the 
Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution, who keep our American 
spirit alive and well today.

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