[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 8119]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             THE LAND OF THE FREE AND THE HOME OF THE BRAVE

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. SAM JOHNSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 31, 2012

  Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise to officially 
congratulate and formally recognize the future leaders of our armed 
forces--the graduates of the Class of 2016 at the nation's prestigious 
service academies. Each young adult listed will become a highly trained 
and exceptionally skilled commissioned officer in the most elite 
military in the world. As you know, each year I have the privilege of 
nominating a limited number of people to four of the five service 
academies. The honor of attending a service academy comes with an 
obligation and commitment to serve in the military for a minimum of 
five years upon graduation.
  As a 29-year Air Force veteran and a former Prisoner of War in 
Vietnam for nearly seven years, more than half of that time in solitary 
confinement, it gives me great joy to help you serve our blessed 
nation. Best wishes to you as you pursue your goal of attending one of 
the U.S. Service Academies and serving our country. It is because of 
selfless people like you that we humbly remain ``the land of the free 
and the home of the brave.'' The names of the appointees, their 
hometowns and high schools follow.


                     United States Military Academy

       Cody Christopher Guerry--Garland, Texas--Naaman Forest High 
     School
       Austin Yupyo Kong--Allen, Texas--Allen High School
       Shannon Elizabeth Rogers--Plano, Texas--Plano Senior High 
     School


                      United States Naval Academy

       William Benac Allred--Richardson, Texas--Plano East Senior 
     High School
       Travis Ross Beach--Garland, Texas--Trinity Christian 
     Academy
       Nicholas Gregory Cerf--McKinney, Texas--Liberty High School
       Mitchell Martin Larios--Frisco, Texas--Frisco High School
       Kamron Alexander Murrell--Allen, Texas--Allen High School


                    United States Air Force Academy

       Allie Nicole Baumgarten--Plano, Texas--Plano Senior High 
     School
       Constance Ruth Gabel--Plano, Texas--Canyon Creek Christian 
     Academy
       Cameron Kistler--Plano, Texas--Plano Senior High School
       Joseph Paul Lamb--Plano, Texas--Plano East Senior High 
     School
       Melissa Lynn Leonhardt--Plano, Texas--Plano Senior High 
     School
       * Adam Ayelle Melaku--Garland, Texas--Garland High School
       Andrew Stephen Parks--McKinney, Texas--Austin Tennis 
     Academy College Preparatory School
       Adam Joseph Wilkins--McKinney, Texas--McKinney North High 
     School


                 United States Merchant Marine Academy

       Colin Spencer Can--Plano, Texas--Plano West Senior High 
     School
       Kinser Dean Newkirk--Plano, Texas--Prince of Peace 
     Christian School
       Jack Andrew Westrich--McKinney, Texas--McKinney Boyd High 
     School

       * Adam Melaku will attend the U.S. Air Force Academy 
     Preparatory School.

  Congratulations are in order for these 18 appointees and 1 U.S. Air 
Force Preparatory School student. God bless you, God bless Texas, God 
bless America, and I salute you.

                          ____________________