[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 11326]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            IN HONOR OF THE SILVER STAR FAMILIES OF AMERICA

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. ROY BLUNT

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 30, 2009

  Mr. BLUNT. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the Silver Star 
Families of America. This organization was founded by two of my 
constituents, Steven and Diana Newton of Clever, Missouri.
  On April 11, 2005, the Silver Star Families of America was founded. 
Since that time, they have freely given thousands of Silver Star 
Service Banners to the wounded and ill or their families. Their primary 
mission is that every time someone sees a Silver Star Service Banner in 
a window or a Silver Star Flag flying, that people remember the 
sacrifice made by so many for this State and Nation. They have also 
established Silver Star Banner Day on May 1st of every year to honor 
the wounded and ill of the United States Armed Forces.
  Steven and Diana Newton, along with national president Janie Orman 
and volunteers across the country, have donated close to 50,000 hours. 
They have also donated over $40,000 in Silver Star Banner distribution 
and $30,000 in direct aid to homeless and near-homeless veterans, care 
packages, and support of hospitalized veterans and other programs.
  To date, they have honored thousands of our wounded and ill with the 
Silver Star Service Banner. I am proud to pay tribute to the Silver 
Star Families of America, their service to veterans across our nation, 
and ask my colleagues in the House to join me in doing the same.

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