[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 13]
[House]
[Page 19101]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     HOLIDAY GREETING TO OUR TROOPS

  (Mrs. BUSTOS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mrs. BUSTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank all of our brave 
heroes who are serving overseas and are not home with their families 
this holiday season. While most of us will be returning to our homes to 
celebrate with family and friends, let us not forget all of the men and 
women serving our country who will not be able to be with their loved 
ones.
  My region of Illinois is home to thousands of veterans who have 
served honorably in wartime and peacetime. It is also home to many 
Active Duty servicemembers, National Guard members, and Ready 
Reservists.
  I was heartened to learn recently that the Peoria-based Army National 
Guard unit is expected to come home before the holidays. This will 
surely be an early Christmas present for many families across the 
region of the country I am here to serve. I look forward to welcoming 
them home.
  All of our servicemembers deserve our full support year-round, but 
let us please take this holiday season as an opportunity to thank them 
for their sacrifices that they have given to their families and to our 
country. Let us be there for them now, because they are there for us.

                          ____________________