[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 14]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 19571]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          FREEDOM FIESTA WEEK

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. SILVESTRE REYES

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 23, 2003

  Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, in my home district of El Paso, Texas, 
Operation Iraqi Freedom will always be remembered for the tragic ambush 
of the 507th Maintenance Company. In a city that is home to nearly 
60,000 veterans and thousands of troops and their family members 
stationed at Fort Bliss, we felt for these soldiers as if they were 
members of our own families. We mourned for those who had lost their 
lives, and prayed for the safe and speedy return of those who had been 
captured. The losses suffered by the 507th Maintenance Company were the 
first combat casualties to be experienced by Fort Bliss in at least a 
quarter century. These soldiers are heroes, and they are more than 
deserving of all of the honor and respect they have received.
  The soldiers of the 507th Maintenance Company, while exceptional, are 
not the only heroes who call Fort Bliss home. Each and every one of the 
more than 3,600 other United States Army soldiers who were deployed to 
Iraq from Fort Bliss is also a hero, and all of their sacrifices should 
be remembered. The thousands of soldiers who contributed to the war 
effort from home and the family members who offered their unwavering 
support must also be recognized. El Paso is a city full of soldiers--
they and their families deserve our respect and gratitude.
  El Paso is proud to be the home of so many of our nation's soldiers. 
During the week of August 3-10, 2003, El Paso will celebrate ``Freedom 
Fiesta Week,'' a series of events to welcome home and honor the 
region's armed services personnel. The celebration will kick off on 
August 3rd with the ``Freedom Fiesta Picnic,'' featuring free food and 
drinks and live music and entertainment. Throughout the week, active 
duty and reserve military personnel and their families will have free 
or reduced admission on selected days to Wet n' Wild Water Park, 
Western Playland Amusement Park, the El Paso Diablos, the El Paso Zoo, 
and various clubs and restaurants in Downtown El Paso. The week will 
culminate in Saturday's parade, featuring more than 6,000 of our Fort 
Bliss soldiers.
  The organization of Freedom Fiesta Week was a collaborative effort, 
and I would like to commend the Greater El Paso Chamber of Commerce, 
the El Paso Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the El Paso Black Chamber of 
Commerce, the City of El Paso, the County of El Paso and the 
Association of the U.S. Army for their hard work in planning what 
promises to be an exciting week. I must also thank all the 
organizations participating in Freedom Fiesta Week for their 
generosity. I do not have the words to express my thanks to our troops, 
but Mr. Speaker, it is with events like Freedom Fiesta Week that we can 
begin to show them how grateful we are for their hard work and 
dedication during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

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