[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 10]
[Senate]
[Page 13613]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                  HONORING COLONEL HAROLD DEAN WEEKLEY

 Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, in a couple of days, July 27th to 
be exact, I will be going to Oshkosh, WI, to attend ``2001 Air 
Venture'' or the Oshkosh Fly-In for those of us who are involved in 
general aviation. This will be the 23rd consecutive year that I have 
gone and it is an event that I look forward to each July.
  As in years past, I will use the opportunity to catch up with old 
friends, watch a couple of air shows, and look over hundreds of planes. 
In addition, this year I will have the opportunity to meet a true 
American hero, Colonel Harold Dean Weekley, retired, who will be 
honored by the WAR BIRDS for his 30 years of service in the Army Air 
Corp and then the United States Air Force. During World War II, Colonel 
Weekley flew B17's where he had a great many close calls but in each 
instance heroically finished his mission and on several occasions put 
his own life on the line to protect his crew.
  I know all my colleagues will agree with me that we owe the men and 
women of the Armed Forces a tremendous debt of gratitude because they 
are the ones on the front lines protecting our liberty. Colonel Weekley 
and his generation went above and beyond the call of duty when they put 
their lives and careers on hold to fight in a conflict a half a world 
away which many at the time did not believe should involve the United 
States. Certainly in hindsight, American involvement in World War II 
was not only the right thing to do but critical to our own security. It 
was courageous individuals like Colonel Weekley that won the war. 
Therefore, I think it very fitting that the WAR BIRDS honor Colonel 
Weekley for his service and urge my colleagues to join me in thanking 
the Colonel for the sacrifices he has made for us.

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