[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 19]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 25624]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




         HONORING THE CITY OF INVERNESS, CITRUS COUNTY, FLORIDA

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GINNY BROWN-WAITE

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 23, 2009

  Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to 
congratulate the city of Inverness, Florida; they have been designated 
the ``National City of the Year'' by the veterans honor organization, 
the Forty & Eight.
  Since 1920, the Forty & Eight organization has worked tirelessly to 
insure that the legacies of our service members endure alongside the 
freedom that they fought so selflessly to defend. They are committed to 
serving our veterans and their families: those who are still with us, 
those who have gone before us and those whose fate is still yet 
unknown.
  John Kaiserian is the Grand Chef de Train of the Forty & Eight and a 
member of Voiture 1219 of Citrus County, Florida. He cited several 
factors which contributed to the City of Inverness receiving top honors 
on both the state and national level. Among them were the city's 
numerous parades and ceremonies honoring veterans, monuments that they 
have erected to honor those killed in combat, the annual Patriotic 
Evening on July 3rd and the City's very own Liberty Park. He refers to 
Inverness as Citrus County's ``veterans' city''.
  On September 9, 2009, City Manager Frank DiGiovanni, City Clerk 
Debbie Davis and Mayor Bob Plaisted traveled to Rochester, New York to 
proudly accept the award on the city's behalf. They recognized the 
support of local residents and veterans' organizations that made the 
award possible. They especially thanked the veterans for all they have 
given to this country: City Manager, Frank DiGiovanni said, ``Loss of 
life is the ultimate sacrifice and many have given all''.
  Madam Speaker, the Forty & Eight organization captures the American 
spirit in communities all across the country. I am honored and very 
proud to recognize Inverness, Florida as the Forty & Eight ``National 
City of the Year''.

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