[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 11]
[House]
[Page 15351]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING OUR VETERANS

  (Mr. CICILLINE asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute.)
  Mr. CICILLINE. Madam Speaker, earlier this week, our Nation observed 
Veterans Day. As we honor all the brave men and women who have worn the 
uniform of the United States Armed Forces, we're especially mindful of 
all those who have laid down their lives in defense of our freedoms. In 
just the past year, Rhode Island families were forced to say goodbye to 
two loved ones taken from us while serving our country in Afghanistan. 
Sergeant Dennis Weichel and Lance Corporal Abraham Tarwoe are American 
heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice for a country they loved.
  So now it falls to those of us privileged to serve in this Chamber to 
keep the commitments and promises that have been made to our veterans. 
For all the bravery and dedication that they have shown us, our 
veterans deserve to know that they will be able to support their 
families, send their children to college, and retire with economic 
security. As we continue discussing ways to reduce the size of our 
Federal deficit, it is absolutely critical that we maintain programs 
important to veterans and their families.

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