[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 12279]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   HONORING UNITED STATES MARINE CAPTAINS MARK SILVERS AND SEAN GOBIN

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. MICHAEL H. MICHAUD

                                of maine

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 25, 2012

  Mr. MICHAUD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor U.S. Marine Captains 
Mark Silvers and Sean Gobin for their tremendous efforts on behalf of 
our nation's wounded warriors.
  Everyday our men and women in uniform place themselves at great 
personal risk in order to defend our nation's freedom and security. 
Captain Silvers and Captain Gobin are two such heroes who decided to 
continue serving their fellow soldiers after their tours had ended. 
Moved by the number of service members returning home from Iraq and 
Afghanistan with debilitating injuries, the two men pledged their 
efforts to improve the lives of our nation's wounded warriors.
  On March 15, 2012, Captain Silvers and Captain Gobin commenced a 
2,180 mile hike of the Appalachian Trail to raise funds and awareness 
of the debilitating injuries our soldiers have suffered while in 
service to our country. Their journey will come to an end next week at 
the summit of Mount Katahdin in Baxter State Park. As they travelled 
through 14 states, Captain Silvers and Gobin have hosted a number of 
fundraisers at separate VFW posts on behalf of Operation Military 
Embrace; a nonprofit that advocates on behalf of wounded 
servicemembers. All of the proceeds from these events will be used to 
purchase adaptive vehicles for veterans who have sustained multiple 
amputations in the course of their service in Iraq or Afghanistan.
  These men have set a remarkable example for what it means to serve 
our country. Operation Military Embrace and Warrior Hike remind us all 
of our enduring responsibility to honor and care for those who have 
sacrificed so much in defense of our freedom. As the Ranking Member on 
the Health Subcommittee of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, I 
am pleased to join the chorus of congratulations celebrating the 
completion of these men's impressive journey.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me in recognizing Captain Silvers and 
Captain Gobin on achieving so much on behalf of our wounded veterans.

                          ____________________