[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 6875]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




        RECOGNIZING OUTSTANDING MILITARY FAMILIES OF OUR NATION

                                 ______
                                 

                      HON. CATHY McMORRIS RODGERS

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 10, 2009

  Mrs. McMORRIS RODGERS. Madam Speaker, I join with my colleagues today 
the opportunity to recognize the outstanding military families of our 
nation. In Eastern Washington, I could not be more proud of the 
military families as well as our community that stands behind them. 
There is probably no other group more schooled in the art of patience 
than our military families. They have to learn to be flexible and to 
endure because they are apart of a system that for all its structure is 
still quite unpredictable.
  Last August, the 81st Brigade from Washington State deployed to Iraq. 
Although it is challenging for the men and women who serve, it is 
sometimes harder for those at home. More often than not, as soon as the 
service member deploys, the spouse is faced with an unforeseen obstacle 
like their brand new car needing to go back to the shop or the 
refrigerator deciding not to work. Children often times go back to 
school and find it hard to understand why mom or dad has to miss their 
baseball game or piano recital. The families of the 81st Brigade have 
much catching up to do when they return home this summer. They will 
have a Thanksgiving to celebrate, Christmas presents to open, birthday 
candles to blow out, Easter eggs to hunt and many, many kisses and hugs 
to share.
  A military spouse once wrote that ``the cycle of deployments, missed 
holidays, lonely anniversaries, and long separations, isn't governed by 
any war or what's being debated on CNN. It is as much a part of our 
daily living as weekend business trips and conference calls are to the 
average business person. It is part of the job description.'' To all 
the military families in our nation, your character and bravery make 
you role models to us all and your service does not go unnoticed. Know 
that our nation is tremendously grateful for your commitment in 
standing beside your Soldier, Sailor, Airmen, or Marine so that he or 
she can fight to continue to protect our freedoms. Please accept my 
utmost and sincerest ``thank you'' for your honorable service.

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