[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 10]
[House]
[Page 14510]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    TROUTMAN INDEPENDENCE DAY PARADE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Foxx) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. FOXX. Last week, when I was home in North Carolina, I enjoyed 
celebrating our American freedom and independence in several parades 
and celebrations. One of the highlights of the many celebrations was 
the town of Troutman, North Carolina's Fourth Annual Independence Day 
Parade.
  Thanks to the leadership of Parade Committee Chairman Dennis Cleary 
and members of the Marine Corps League Detachment 1091, as well as 
Troutman Mayor Elbert Richardson and many local citizens, this 
celebration was a tremendous display of American patriotism.
  More than 200 Vietnam veterans served as grand marshals for this 
year's parade, as they led attendees through the streets of Troutman to 
the loud applause and cheers of their fellow citizens who welcomed them 
home with yellow ribbons tied along the parade route.
  Many local organizations participated in this one-of-a-kind parade, 
led by many members of North Carolina's Rolling Thunder chapters, such 
as Ross Moore; North Carolina Rolling Thunder Chapter 2 from 
Statesville led by Chapter President George ``Mike'' Keller, a U.S. 
Army Vietnam veteran; North Carolina Rolling Thunder Chapter 6 from 
Winston-Salem led by Chapter President Bob Penn, a U.S. Marine Corps 
Vietnam veteran; as well as many veterans from the local American 
Legion, the local Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the local Disabled 
American Veterans.
  It was an honor to join one of America's true heroes in the parade, 
Medal of Honor recipient Rodolfo P. Hernandez. Parading through 
Troutman with heroes like Mr. Hernandez is a poignant reminder of why 
it has been such a pleasure to participate in the celebration for the 
past 4 years. After all, this is a celebration of what makes America 
great: Our love for liberty and willingness to make great personal 
sacrifice for the cause of liberty.
  I thank also all those who worked behind the scenes to make this 
annual parade another great success. I give a special thanks to our 
veterans and current service men and women, without whom we would have 
little to celebrate this year. Their sacrifices are not forgotten and 
must not be overlooked as they put their lives on the line each day to 
secure our freedoms. We are the land of the free because they are the 
brave.
  God bless our military men and women and God bless America.

                          ____________________