[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Page 17034]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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             TRIBUTE TO THE SILVER STAR FAMILIES OF AMERICA

 Mr. ISAKSON. Mr. President, today I honor in the Record of the 
Senate the Silver Star Families of America, upon the completion of $1 
million in donated volunteer hours and materials to remember and honor 
the wounded and ill of our armed forces.
  The Silver Star Families of America was founded on April 11, 2005, 
and received 501(c)3 status on December 5, 2005. The Silver Star Flag 
and Banner are symbols of remembrance and honor for the wounded 
soldiers and their families as well as anyone wishing to honor those 
wounded during combat while honorably serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. 
The goal of the Silver Star Families of America is to recognize the 
blood sacrifice of our wounded and remember their efforts by honoring 
them with the Silver Star Banner. The Silver Star Families of America 
also advocates for the wounded and assists in educating their families 
and the public concerning their plight.
  I have had the pleasure of meeting and working with the Georgia 
representative of Silver Star Families of America, Trish Benefield of 
Rome, GA, on a number of occasions while she organized State and local 
events and hospital visits to honor the men and women of our Armed 
Forces and their families who have sacrificed so much on behalf of our 
Nation's freedom.
  Ms. Benefield, chief Steven J. Newton, founder of Silver Star 
Families, national president Janie Orman, and volunteers across the 
country have donated 47,912 hours valued by the Veterans Administration 
at $934,763. They have also donated over $40,000 in Silver Star Banner 
distribution and $30,000 in direct aid for items such as services to 
homeless and near-homeless veterans, care packages, and support of 
hospitalized veterans and other programs. This achievement is a 
noteworthy one, and I am proud to recognize this accomplishment 
today.

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