[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 18]
[Senate]
[Pages 24072-24073]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                            OHIO'S VETERANS

  Mr. BROWN. Mr. President, Ohio is home to more than 1 million 
veterans, dedicated men and women who have served in every branch of 
our Nation's Armed Forces and every major conflict in the modern era. 
They have served to keep our freedoms, so our Nation could remain 
secure. Ohioans have a longstanding tradition of service to our 
country. Ohio's veterans include Presidents and generals, from Grant to 
Sherman, and pioneers of American advancement, such as Neil Armstrong, 
John Glenn, and James Lovell.
  But for every well-known American veteran, there are, of course, many 
more heroes who have quietly served this Nation and my State of Ohio 
with honor and distinction.
  As our Nation looks forward to the return of our loved ones from the 
battlefield, all of us remember the tremendous contributions our 
veterans have made to Ohio and to our country. We are humbled by their 
patriotism and their bravery.
  On Veterans Day and every day, it is my honor to thank Ohio veterans 
and their families for their service to our great State and our great 
Nation.
  The Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame was created in 1992 to recognize the 
lifetime contributions of veterans, not just those who serve their 
country in the Armed Forces but also those who continue to give back 
since they left the service. I honor, congratulate, and salute all of 
them.
  The Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame Class of 2008 is made up of several 
men and women whose stories I would like to briefly tell.
  Samuel Arnold, from Butler County, is a U.S. Army veteran, Vietnam 
war. Arnold is a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4369 board 
of trustees and provides dentistry to veterans who reside at Joseph 
House at little or no cost.
  Paul Baldridge, Jr., from Franklin County, is a U.S. Navy veteran. 
Baldridge has served in a number of veterans organizations, including 
the Navy League of the United States, where he has held positions as 
State president, national director, and vice president.
  Oscar Decker, Jr., from Union County, is a U.S. Army veteran, Army 
National Guard and Army Reserve in World War II and Vietnam. Decker 
organized the Union County Military Family Support Group in 2003 and 
was awarded the Legion of Honor Award from the Chapel of the Four 
Chaplains and the American Legion of Merit.
  Rebecca Eden, a registered nurse from Cuyahoga County, is a U.S. Army 
Nurse Corps veteran, World War II. Eden is a lifetime member of Gold 
Star Wives and AMVETS. She was presented with the Veterans Affairs 
Commendation given by the Ohio Veterans Commission for helping veterans 
pursue educational goals in 1982.
  Eugene Fitzthum, from Erie County, is a U.S. Army veteran, World War 
II. Fitzthum was presented the John L. Smith AMVET of the Year Award 
for all his volunteer work for AMVETS Post 17 in 2008 and Volunteer of 
the Year from the Ohio Veterans Home in 2006.
  Nada Fleming, a registered nurse from Cuyahoga County, is a U.S. Navy 
veteran, Desert Shield/Desert Storm. Fleming is a past commander of 
Seven Hills VFW Post 7609 and was appointed as National VFW Nurse of 
the Year for 2006-2007.
  Robert Haas, from Stark County, is a U.S. Army veteran, Korean war. 
Haas served as the volunteer liaison officer for the U.S. Military 
Academy, West Point, for the past 29 years. He is a founding member and 
past president of the Greater Cleveland Chapter of the Korean War 
Veterans Association No. 69.
  Dale Huffman, from Montgomery County, is a U.S. Army veteran. His 
public broadcasting skills have helped to energize veteran advocacy, 
and he was inducted into Dayton's Walk of Fame on September 25, 2008.
  Charles Ianni, deceased, was from Cuyahoga County, U.S. Army veteran, 
World War II. Ianni was named Veteran of the Year by Cuyahoga County 
and was a charter member of the John Towle Chapter of the 82nd Airborne 
Division Association, Special Forces Chapter.
  James Johnson, from Franklin County, is a U.S. Air Force veteran. 
Johnson was awarded the AFCRC Certificate of Recognition for his 
contribution, support, and distinguished service to his community, 
especially in the area of veterans affairs in 2007.
  Jack M. Kennedy, from Franklin County, is a U.S. Navy veteran, 
Vietnam war. Kennedy has served in the Navy League of the United 
States, where he has held various positions, including Navy League 
council president. He is a lifetime member of the Military Officers 
Association of America.
  Margaret Kruckemeyer, a nurse, from Green County, is a U.S. Army 
veteran. Kruckemeyer is the president of the American Veterans Heritage 
Commission and is past national board member on the Nurses Organization 
of Veterans Affairs Foundation.
  Samuel Lanza, from Trumbull County, is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, 
World War II. Lanza was appointed to the Trumbull County Veterans 
Service Commission in 1997. He is a past State commander for the 
Disabled American Veterans.
  Gregory Lashutka, from Franklin County, is a U.S. Navy veteran. 
Lashutka is the former mayor of the city of Columbus and was selected 
as Municipal Leader of the Year in 1993. He has maintained continuous 
membership in the Columbus Chapter of the Navy League and has provided 
support, counsel, and advice to individual veterans and veterans 
groups.

[[Page 24073]]

  Erwin Morse, from Clark County, is a U.S. Air Force veteran. Morse 
retired from the U.S. Air Force and went to work at the Dayton Veterans 
Administration Medical Center. He is the founder of the Honor Flight 
Network which raises funds and collaborates with a number of 
organizations to provide an opportunity for our Nation's World War II 
and terminally ill veterans from around the country to experience the 
National World War II Memorial in Washington, DC.
  Stanley Pace, from Cuyahoga County, is a U.S. Air Force veteran, 
World War II. Pace has been active in the Boy Scouts of America since 
1958 and was awarded the Silver Beaver and the Silver Antelope for his 
service. He is also active in the United Way of Cleveland and served as 
chairman of the annual United Way fund drive.
  Elva Pounders, from Summit County, is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, 
Vietnam war. Pounder is vice chairman for the Governor's Advisory 
Committee on Women Veterans and was awarded the 500 Hour Award for her 
extraordinary volunteer efforts at Brecksville VA Medical Center in 
2006.
  Tony Sustarsic, Cuyahoga County, is a U.S. Army veteran, World War 
II. Sustarsic is the founder, past president, and lifetime member of 
Euclid Veterans Club. He is also a fundraiser for the Veterans of 
Foreign Wars Post 1056 and American Legion Post 343.
  William Willoughby, Jr., from Lake County, is a U.S. Army veteran, 
Vietnam war. Willoughby is a U.S. Military Academy admissions 
coordinator and serves on the Veterans Issues Committee. He was very 
helpful to me in selecting young men and women for West Point, for the 
U.S. Military Academy, when I was a Member of the House of 
Representatives.
  Herman Zerger, a long-time friend of mine, is from Monroe County, 
U.S. Army veteran, with service in World War II and a prisoner of war. 
Zerger was one of the founding charter members of the Veterans of 
Foreign Wars Post 5303. He is an active participant in Ohio No. 1, 
American Ex-Prisoner of War.
  As a Member of the Senate Veterans Committee, on which I serve with 
the Presiding Officer from Montana, my colleague, Senator Tester, it 
has been my privilege to hear from Ohio veterans across the State about 
what matters most to them. Those discussions with veterans at 
roundtables and hearings in Ohio reinforce my profound respect for our 
veterans.
  It is our duty as Members of Congress to do all we can to provide the 
services they have earned and deserved. I look forward to working with 
veterans and their families in the coming years to ensure that Ohio 
veterans' voices are heard in Washington.
  We made major progress last year. Senator Tester, Senator Webb, 
Senator Sanders--many of us on the Veterans Affairs Committee--Senator 
Murray and others, and, of course, Chairman Akaka, made major gains in 
health and education benefits for veterans with the new GI bill--the 
most important benefits granted, the largest amount of benefits granted 
since the original GI bill several decades ago. I am appreciative of 
the work of my colleagues on that issue.

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