[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 12572]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING THE ``WELCOME HOME A HERO'' VOLUNTEER CAMPAIGN AT THE DFW 
             INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ON ITS THIRD ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. KENNY MARCHANT

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 15, 2007

  Mr. MARCHANT. Madam Speaker, I rise today to extend my 
congratulations to the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, the 
United States Army's Personnel Assistance Point at DFW Airport, the 
North Texas Commission and to DFW Airport's dedicated staff and 
thousands of community volunteers for reaching the third anniversary of 
the ``Welcome Home a Hero'' volunteer campaign.
  In June 2004, the DFW International Airport and the North Texas 
Commission organized the ``Welcome Home a Hero'' volunteer campaign to 
honor and serve the brave men and women of the U.S. Army who travel 
through the DFW Airport on leave for Rest and Recuperation (R&R). The 
campaign has developed into one of the largest and most respected on-
going community initiatives in North Texas and the U.S. The campaign 
involves a wide array of business, civic and volunteer organizations, 
including the USO, churches, corporations, chambers of commerce, the 
Boy Scouts and Girls Scouts of America and many veterans groups. 
``Welcome Home a Hero'' has been so successful that it has been honored 
with the George Washington Honor Medal by the Freedoms Foundation at 
Valley Forge and it has received hundreds of messages of gratitude from 
our servicemen and women who appreciate the patriotism and hospitality 
of DFW Airport and its loyal volunteers in North Texas.
  This year more than 500,000 U.S. soldiers will have passed through 
the airport and participated in the R&R program and ``Welcome Home a 
Hero'' campaign. When these courageous soldiers arrive they are greeted 
with a warm reception and the thankful words of fellow Americans who 
wish to honor the enormous sacrifices made by all of our men and women 
in uniform.
  Madam Speaker, it is with great honor that I recognize all those who 
have made the DFW Airport and Texas an emblem of patriotism to 
countless troops from around the nation. I congratulate the ``Welcome 
Home a Hero'' campaign for three great years and I am proud to witness 
the raw emotion and thanksgiving that emanates from both the soldiers 
and those who come here to celebrate their resolve.

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