[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 8]
[Senate]
[Page 10447]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO PHILIP LANDER

 Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, last Monday, our Nation paused to 
remember the sacrifices that the men and women of our Armed Forces have 
made over the past 235 years. Indeed, Memorial Day is a time to reflect 
on the freedoms and liberties we enjoy because of the heroic deeds of 
these brave service members. For those who made it back, many seek to 
continue giving back to the nation they love. Today I wish to recognize 
one such veteran, Philip Lander, who is the owner of Atlantic Defense 
Company, a small, service-disabled veteran-owned construction firm in 
my home State of Maine that provides other veterans with an opportunity 
to find meaningful employment upon their return. For his efforts, Mr. 
Lander has been named the Small Business Administration's 2010 Maine 
Veteran Small Business Champion, a truly prestigious honor that only 
begins to highlight his incredible work to help America's veterans.
  Indeed, Mr. Lander can lay claim to a distinguished record of service 
to our Nation dating back to 1970, when he enlisted in the U.S. Army 
during his time at the University of Maine. After 2 years of service, 
he returned to Maine to complete a degree in agricultural engineering 
during which time he joined the Air National Guard. Mr. Lander was 
called up to active duty during several notable conflicts, including 
Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm and the Bosnian war in the 
1990s, and was recalled to duty after the tragic events of September 
11, 2001.
  Mr. Lander founded Atlantic Defense Company in 2005, after retiring 
from the U.S. Air Force the year before. Atlantic Defense immediately 
got to work upon its inception, renovating the well-known Jordan Pond 
House in Maine's Acadia National Park, as well as taking on a contract 
for the New Jersey Air National Guard rebuilding ground support 
equipment. Shortly after the scandal at Walter Reed Army Medical 
Center, Atlantic Defense sought to help America's veterans receive the 
care they are entitled to by assisting in the rehabilitation of the 
Nation's VA hospital system. The company performed work at several 
hospitals across New England, including Togus in Maine and Westhaven in 
Connecticut.
  Always seeking to give back to those who have served, Mr. Lander is 
involved in the Helmets to Hardhats program, which has the goal of 
helping veterans of the military, Reserves, and Guard transition from 
active duty to jobs in the construction industry. His company also 
transports a medical van to remote spots throughout the northwest 
portion of Maine, to ensure that veterans living in those areas are 
able to receive care from the Togus VA system. Mr. Lander also seeks to 
employ veterans in his company, which currently has 15 to 20 year-round 
employees, as well as through subcontracting opportunities with similar 
service-disabled veteran-owned firms.
  It has been said of the members of our Nation's Armed Forces that 
some gave all, but all gave some, and clearly, Philip Lander continues 
to give back even after his longtime career of service to our nation. 
His generous and selfless efforts to employ fellow veterans and provide 
them with critical opportunities back home is admirable. I congratulate 
him on his recognition as the 2010 Maine Veteran Small Business 
Champion, and wish everyone at Atlantic Defense Company success in 
future projects.

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