[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 17584]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNITION OF THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF BILL VOIGT TO NATIONAL VETERANS DAY

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                          HON. SPENCER BACHUS

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, November 15, 2010

  Mr. BACHUS. Madam Speaker, as we honor our veterans on Veterans Day 
2010, it is an appropriate time to commend the service of Colonel Bill 
Voigt for his dedicated work as the President of National Veterans Day 
in Birmingham.
  Birmingham, Alabama is the proud birthplace of Veterans Day. National 
Veterans Day in Birmingham is recognized by the U.S. Veterans 
Administration as the oldest largest observance of its kind in the 
nation. As the organizing director for more than 20 years, Colonel 
Voigt has honored and built on this legacy which has become the model 
for paying tribute to our troops in uniform and esteemed veterans for 
their service and sacrifice for the cause of freedom. The annual parade 
in downtown Birmingham attracts more than 5,000 participants and 20,000 
spectators, and the associated luncheons and dinners have provided a 
forum for recognizing our nation's most prominent patriots. The success 
of National Veterans Day in Birmingham every year can be traced to the 
leadership of Colonel Bill Voigt.
  Colonel Voigt has spent his career serving his nation in the military 
as well as the State of Alabama. His family's roots are in Walker 
County and, while born in California, he was raised here at home. He 
attained his undergraduate degree at Auburn University and his Masters 
of Business Administration at University of Alabama at Birmingham. 
Colonel Voigt was a member of the Alabama Air National Guard for over 
30 years and served in the United States Air Force Reserve as well. His 
many community awards and accolades include his selection as a 
permanent Member of the Alabama Senior Citizens Hall of Fame and his 
service on the Board of Directors of Birmingham Honor Flight.
  Colonel Bill Voigt has devoted his life to his family, his country, 
and our brave men and women in uniform. As he retires as the President 
of National Veterans Day in Birmingham, we properly take pause to 
salute him for his selfless dedication to the United States of America, 
his concern for the well-being of our troops and veterans, and the 
enduring qualities of duty, honor, and service that he has exemplified 
with such distinction in our Birmingham community.

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