[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 16030]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




HONORING THE VETERANS OF THE OCTOBER 16, 2013 EASTERN IOWA HONOR FLIGHT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DAVID LOEBSACK

                                of iowa

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 16, 2013

  Mr. LOEBSACK. Mr. Speaker, today, over eighty Iowa veterans of World 
War II and the Korean War have traveled to our nation's capital. 
Together, they will visit the monuments that were built in their honor 
by a grateful nation. At a time of great division in our capital, our 
veterans of the World War II and Korean War generations remind us not 
only of the best of our great nation but also the unity with which our 
nation responded to great challenges.
  For many of these heroes, today will be the first time they will see 
the National World War II Memorial and the Korean War Veterans 
Memorial. I am humbled to have the opportunity to personally thank 
these heroes on behalf of every Iowan I represent for their service to 
our nation and to pay tribute to the incredible sacrifice they made for 
our country.
  We owe these heroes a debt of gratitude and the Honor Flight 
demonstrates that we will never forget the debt we owe those who have 
worn our nation's uniform. Our World War II and Korean War veterans 
rose to defend not just our nation, but the freedoms, democracy, and 
values that make our country the greatest nation on earth. They did so 
as one people and one country.
  The sheer magnitude of what the Greatest Generation accomplished, not 
just in war but in the peace that followed, continues to inspire us 
today. Their generation and our country did not seek to be tested but 
when called upon to do so, they defended and then rebuilt our nation to 
make it even stronger. Their patriotism, service, and sacrifice not 
only defined their generation--they stand as a testament to the 
fortitude of our nation and the American people. Their legacy endures 
today.
  I am tremendously proud to welcome the Eastern Iowa Honor Flight and 
Iowa's veterans of the Second World War and the Korean War to our 
nation's capital today. On behalf of every Iowan I represent, I thank 
them for their service to our country.

                          ____________________