[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 6550]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




           RECOGNIZING MEMBERS OF HONOR FLIGHT SOUTH ALABAMA

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JO BONNER

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 3, 2011

  Mr. BONNER. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I rise to 
commend Honor Flight South Alabama and the 89 World War II veterans 
this very special organization is bringing to Washington, D.C., on May 
4, 2011.
  Founded by the South Alabama Veterans Council, Honor Flight South 
Alabama is an organization whose mission is to fly heroes from Mobile, 
Baldwin, Washington, Clarke, Monroe, Covington, and Escambia counties 
in Alabama to see their national memorial.
  Over six decades have passed since the end of World War II and, 
regrettably, it took nearly this long to complete work on the memorial 
that honors the spirit and sacrifice of the 16 million who served in 
the U.S. armed forces and the more than 400,000 who paid the ultimate 
sacrifice. Sadly, many veterans did not live long enough to hear their 
country say ``thank you'' yet, for those veterans still living, Honor 
Flight provides for many their first--and perhaps only--opportunity to 
see the National World War II Memorial, which honors their service and 
sacrifice.
  This Honor Flight begins at dawn when the veterans will gather at 
historic Fort Whiting in Mobile and travel to Mobile Regional Airport 
to board a US Airways flight to Washington. During their time in their 
nation's capital, the veterans will visit the World War II Memorial, 
Arlington National Cemetery, and other memorials.
  The veterans will return to Mobile Regional Airport Wednesday 
evening, where a very large crowd of family and friends are expected to 
greet them.
  Mr. Speaker, Wednesday's journey of 89 heroes from South Alabama is 
an appropriate time for us to pause and thank them--and all of our 
military who fought in World War II--for they collectively and 
literally saved the world. They personify the very best America has to 
offer, and I urge my colleagues to take a moment to pay tribute to 
their selfless devotion to our country and the freedom we enjoy.
  I salute each of the 89 veterans who made the trip on May 4, 2011. 
May we never forget their valiant deeds and tremendous sacrifices: 
Clavis Akridge, Mary Balch, Herbert Barnhart, Harry Bennitt, Nathan 
Beverly, Blake Blakeney, Jim Botts, Sr., Robert Bryant, Howard Carney, 
Sr., Harold Childers, Charles Christie, Dale Crittenden, Arthur Days, 
Jr., Donald Delmarter, Gerald Devuyst, William, Duffy, Sr., John 
Elliott, Hardy Eubanks, Osburn Flener, Delbert Ganson, Albert Garrett, 
James Glisson, George Grant, Bobbie Gwin, James Hathcock, Jr., Allen 
Honeycutt, Andrew Jackson, Jordan Jackson, Ralph Jackson, Weyman Jobe, 
Ben Johnson, Henry Jones, Emory Jones, Mathew Kautzer, Robert Killam, 
Kenneth Kollar, Joseph Kress, William Krist, William Lauten, John 
Loper, Reginald Loper, Charles Loury, James Maupin, Bruce Maynard, 
Perry McClure, Bryant McDonald, Jr., Glenn Merrill, Robert Middleton, 
John Mobley, Tristam Mock, James Mullineaux, Albert Murrell, William 
Nanney, Jr., James Nettles, John Nettles, Jr., Ronald O'Donnell, John 
Odom, Morgan Odom, Curtis Outlaw, Sr., John Overbeck, Oliver Palanjian, 
Orin Parker, Jr., William Patterson, Hurshel Paul, Webster Pedersen, 
Peter Richardson, Tom Robertson, Albert Roll, Jr., Joe Salzmann, Norman 
Sannes, Frank Schneider, Louis Spadaro, Lamar Stapleton, Bernie Steele, 
Rene Stiegler, Jr., Orrin Strickler, Floyd Stringfellow, Irvine Tucker, 
Waid Turner, Donald VanBeek, James Walker, Sr., Eldred Ward, Jr., Hugh 
Wiggins, Lewis Wilder, Frederick Witzel, Vernon Woodcock, Robert 
Yearty, Joseph Zulofsky, and Eldred Latham.

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