[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 15]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 20089]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 HONORING MASTER SGT. LORENE KITZMILLER

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. ZACH WAMP

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 29, 2009

  Mr. WAMP. Madam Speaker, the Volunteer State continues to produce the 
best of the best in our military! Today, I am privileged to rise and 
honor Master Sgt. Lorene Kitzmiller of the Tennessee Air National Guard 
who was selected as the 2009 First Sergeant of the Year for the Air 
National Guard. She was also recognized as an Outstanding Airman of the 
Year along with five other Airmen nationwide.
  Master Sgt. Kitzmiller is serving with the 118th Aeromedical 
Evacuation Squadron in Nashville. Each year, the States and territories 
select and submit top performers from the Air Guard's 88 flying units 
and 579 mission support units to compete for this prestigious award. 
Out of more than 93,000 enlisted Airmen in the Air National Guard, only 
six are selected for the final competition.
  Kitzmiller has participated in multiple overseas deployments 
including Operation Northern Watch (Macedonia), Operation Southern 
Watch (Saudi Arabia), Operation Iraqi Freedom (Kuwait, Baghdad, and 
twice in Balad), and Operation Enduring Freedom. She also is very 
active improving her local community and volunteers with the Tennessee 
Drug Task Force Team and YMCA, serving as a drill instructor during 
summer camps for troubled youth. She has spent countless hours 
volunteering with Military Kids Support Programs and Homeless Veterans 
Associations helping veterans find shelter and employment.
  Master Sgt. Kitzmiller hails from Springfield, Tenn., and is 
currently studying at Austin Peay State University working toward her 
bachelor's degree. She attended Dickson County High School and left for 
Navy basic training 10 days after graduation. Upon discharge 4 years 
later, she joined the Army Reserve, served in several units before 
transferring to the Tennessee Army National Guard, and then finally to 
the State's Air National Guard. In December 2005, she was selected as a 
First Sergeant, fulfilling a dream to follow in her father's footsteps.
  Tennessee is very proud of the accomplishments and service of Master 
Sgt. Lorene Kitzmiller and I proudly recognize her today in the U.S. 
House of Representatives. Individuals like Kitzmiller continue to give 
the United States military a reputation of excellence and commitment to 
their State and their Nation while at home or deployed around the 
world. On behalf of the great State of Tennessee, I honor Master Sgt. 
Lorene Kitzmiller for her accomplishments and dedication to Tennessee 
and the United States of America.

                          ____________________