[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 13]
[Senate]
[Page 17799]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     HONOR FLIGHT VETERANS TRIBUTE

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I would like to take a moment to 
recognize an inspiring group of World War II veterans from the 
Commonwealth who visited our Nation's Capitol on the 65th anniversary 
of the D-day invasion. The noble work of the Honor Flight Program and 
the leaders at its Bluegrass Chapter made it possible for these World 
War II veterans to visit their memorial on the National Mall free of 
charge. I have been privileged to participate in previous Honor Flights 
from Kentucky, and I very much regret that my schedule prevented me 
from attending the one that took place on June 6, 2009. I hope to have 
the opportunity to join participants from my home State on Honor Flight 
trips in the near future.
  I wish to express my tremendous gratitude to the 66 Kentucky veterans 
who were here that day for having served to protect our great Nation's 
principles from the enemies of freedom. As Americans, we are forever 
indebted to the heroic men and women of the U.S. military who defend 
this great Nation and all it represents. In fighting for prosperity and 
freedom around the world, the veterans of World War II risked 
everything, earning the title of the ``greatest generation.''
  As General Eisenhower said in his message to the troops just before 
the invasion at Normandy: ``The eyes of the world are upon you. The 
hopes and prayers of liberty loving people everywhere march with you.'' 
These words ring true, even after 65 years, as our military continues 
to challenge threats to freedom, democracy and the American way of 
life.
  Our country continues to do its best to honor the incredible bravery 
and sacrifice of our men and women in uniform. The Honor Flight Program 
is a reflection of the admiration and appreciation that all Americans 
have for the military. I take great pride in representing many brave 
veterans from Kentucky and in doing what I can to show our Nation's 
reverence for them.
  The names of the 66 World War II veterans from the Commonwealth are 
as follows:

       Richard Straub; George Hoffman; Robert Willman; Charles 
     Junkins; Norman Reiss; William Taylor; Mary Phillips; Walter 
     Brumfield, Sr.; Raymond Bumann; Lawrence Mayfield; Thomas 
     Crump; Albert Tomassetti; Eugene Heimerdinger; Fletcher 
     Williams; Paul Lawson; Millard Allen; Paul Jordan; Joseph 
     McConnell; Harry Greavesl; Robert Bohan.
       John McCord, Jr.; Louis Stafford; Walter Martin; Stanley 
     Adkins; James Thomas; William Wilson; Harold Hoover; Kenneth 
     Elliott; Johnie Hayes; Peter Johnson, Sr.; Robert O'Bryan; 
     Frank Rose; Norbert Gnadinger; Martin Lambright; Robert 
     Zangmeister, Sr.; Walter Jewell, Jr.; James Keene; George 
     Pope; Richard Thompson; Orland Warth.
       Raymond Ludwick; Arthur Lowe; Ralph Hammerle; Roy Six; 
     Arthur Wissing; Louis Guettzow; Howard Mather; Allen Kessler; 
     Harold Finnell; William Boyd; Wilbert Block; Claude Decker; 
     George Garth; Joseph Wilson; Lloyd Hoagland; William Zeitz; 
     Vincent Heuser; Oscar Disney, Jr.; Nat Bailen; George 
     Keltner; Richard Zogg; Taylor Davidson; Pauline Thompson; 
     Henry Hardy, Jr.; Abner McMaster; Stanley Fischer.

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