[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 17]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 21909]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING THE RETURN OF BATTERY B, 2ND BATTALION, 116TH FIELD ARTILLERY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GINNY BROWN-WAITE

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, November 13, 2006

  Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to 
recognize the exploits of one of Florida's National Guard Units--
Battery B, 2nd Battalion, 116th Field Artillery.
  In April of 2005, 139 soldiers from Battery B began a deployment that 
would take them to Afghanistan. For over a year, the unit brought 
security to the Afghani people by conducting patrols, guarding critical 
military bases, and providing a presence to deter Taliban insurgents. 
This past July, after their heroic service, elements of Battery B began 
returning to the United States. Thankfully, during their deployment, 
the unit suffered no fatalities.
  Last month, I had the privilege of meeting with these brave 
individuals, many of whom live within my congressional district. The 
courage and selflessness of our soldiers never ceases to amaze me. I 
was also touched when I learned that during its tour, Battery B used an 
American flag that flew over the United States Capitol--a little piece 
of home halfway around the world.
  Mr. Speaker, the war on terror is a long-term commitment, one that 
will require courage, sacrifice, and hard work. When I see the 
steadfast resolve of soldiers with Battery B, I know that we will 
prevail in this conflict. In closing, I want to thank the men and women 
in our Armed Forces, as well as their families, for making tremendous 
sacrifices to defend our freedom. May God bless you all.

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