[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 10]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 13109-13110]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              HONORING BENT COUNTY WWII MEMORIAL COMMITTEE

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. MARILYN N. MUSGRAVE

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 17, 2004

  Mrs. MUSGRAVE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Bent County 
World War II Memorial Committee. Bent County was home to at least 1,200 
men and women who served in WWII.
  To commemorate their homegrown heroes, several citizens made the 
decision to gather as much information as possible about Bent County 
residents who served in the war. The 10 members of the WWII Memorial 
Committee have created a book to preserve the veterans' stories. On May 
29, 2004 the book was displayed at the WWII Recognition Program at the 
old Bent County High School. The book not only contains personal 
stories and experiences of these veterans, but it also contains two 
pictures of each veteran, and information on where each veteran was 
stationed during the war. Other information that was entered included 
medals and honors veterans received during their time of service.
  The committee has found approximately 400 of the 1,200 veterans, and 
they have received responses from at least 300. Aside from desperately 
seeking the information needed from the remainder of the veterans they 
are also collecting memorabilia including uniforms, military records, 
and cookbooks. The committee knows that this is an ongoing project, and 
the book and collection will eventually be displayed in the future John 
W. Rawlings Museum.
  I am proud to serve a constituency that is willing to go to such 
great lengths to honor ``America's Greatest Generation.'' Thank you to 
the following members of the Bent County WWII Memorial Committee: 
Fontella Gardner, Donna Dodson, Bill Lutz, Diane Baublits, Betty 
Pennington, Tom Pointon, Ron Kiniston, C.P. (Jerry) Bryant, Jr., Vivian 
Pitts, H.E. (Ed) Blackburn, Jr.
  I would also like to extend a debt of gratitude to the individuals 
and businesses that offered special assistance to make this book and 
event a success: Ladies Auxiliary VFW Post 2411, Kitty Ann Long, VFW 
Post 2411, Jace Ratzlaff, Constituent Advocate (Congresswoman Marilyn 
Musgrave), Walmart, Safeway, Mark MacDonnell.
  The Las Animas/Bent County Community is fortunate to have had such 
brave men and women to serve in WWII, and they are fortunate to have so 
many citizens that recognize the importance of their service to the 
United States of America.

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