[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 15]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 21303]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE FOR ITS TRIBUTE TO 
                           OUR FALLEN HEROES

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GUS M. BILIRAKIS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, December 16, 2011

  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Hillsborough County 
Sheriff David Gee for his efforts to honor fallen military heroes from 
the Tampa Bay area. At the direction of Sheriff Gee, the Hillsborough 
County Sheriff's Office has instituted a program to conduct honor 
escorts for every fallen hero from Tampa Bay who returns to 
Hillsborough County. To date, Sheriff Gee and the Hillsborough County 
Sheriffs have conducted 12 honor escorts for fallen heroes since the 
escorts were implemented in 2009. While that is 12 honor escorts too 
many, I am proud to represent a community with an institution as 
respectful and dignified as the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.
  At the direction of Sheriff Gee, and with the permission of the 
fallen hero's family, any fallen hero that arrives in Hillsborough 
County is escorted to any destination. These escorts involve multiple 
motorcycle deputies, patrol cruisers, and other Sheriff's vehicles, 
including members of the Sheriff's aviation unit, as the hearse and the 
family's vehicles are led through the county. Each family is given a 
copy of a DVD and photo album commemorating the escort to help them 
heal, remember, and recall that their loved one was a real American 
hero.
  Many of us recall the unfortunate response that many of our veterans 
received upon their return from Vietnam. One of the great lessons of 
that tragedy was to always remember the sacrifices of the service 
member. As Vice-Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, I 
constantly find myself in awe of the sacrifices and efforts that have 
been made on behalf of our great country by the men and women who have 
worn the uniform of our Armed Services. Regardless of the politics of 
the conflicts that our country has engaged in over the course of the 
last decade, I am proud of and appreciative of the efforts that Sheriff 
Gee and the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office have taken to honor 
and respect our fallen heroes. Mr. Speaker, I salute the efforts of not 
only our brave men and women in uniform, but also that of Sheriff Gee 
and the Hillsborough County Sheriffs to honor their brothers and 
sisters in arms and to protect the safety and security of the citizens 
of Hillsborough County.

                          ____________________