[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 14]
[House]
[Page 19100]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              IN HONOR OF THE BLUE STAR MOTHERS OF AMERICA

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Colorado (Mr. Tipton) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. TIPTON. Yesterday, legislation that I sponsored, along with 
Senator Michael Bennet from Colorado, passed the House floor. This bill 
for the Blue Star Mothers of America updated their congressional 
charter for the modern era.
  Mr. Speaker, I am privileged today, particularly on this day as we 
commemorate the attack on Pearl Harbor 70 years ago, to be able to rise 
to honor the Blue Star Mothers of America--the people, the women of 
America, who have been providing much needed assistance to our Nation's 
active duty servicemen and -women, veterans, and military families 
since 1942.
  Founded during the height of World War II, the Blue Star Mothers are 
a nonpartisan veterans' service organization, composed of mothers of 
current and former servicemembers. Today, over 5,000 dedicated women 
perform a wide variety of important volunteer services for our troops, 
providing transportation, supplies, food, and emotional support. More 
than 225 local chapters across the United States carry out the mission 
of supporting our troops, our veterans, and the families of our fallen 
heroes, as well as developing individual projects to assist the 
specific needs of the military in their own communities. Last month 
alone, thousands of care packages were sent to our troops overseas, and 
chaplains and commanders across the military received boxes of supplies 
and gifts to be able to be distributed to the comrades.
  The Blue Star Mothers were originally formed to bring their children 
home, to ensure that they were given the benefits that they deserved, 
and to provide them with a vast support network upon their arrival. The 
organization has since expanded to include other forms of assistance, 
including rehabilitation, family services, and civil defense. This was 
chartered by Congress in 1960.
  Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to be able to recognize the Blue Star 
Mothers of America, and I rise today to thank these patriotic women for 
their commitment to serving the needs of America's military community 
and for making a difference in the lives of those who sacrifice the 
most.
  Several years ago, I had the opportunity to be at the graduation at 
the United States Air Force Academy. My son-in-law was graduating, and 
Secretary Gates delivered the commencement address. At that time, he 
noted that that freshman class was the first to enter the academy after 
9/11, knowing full well that they would be putting themselves in harm's 
way.
  We have the finest volunteer military that the world has ever seen. 
May God continue to bless this country with such men and women who will 
always stand for freedom.

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