[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 6]
[Senate]
[Page 8283]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              AWARD OF ABILENE TROPHY TO ST. LOUIS REGION

  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I rise today to commend the communities of 
St. Louis and Southwestern Illinois region for winning the Air Mobility 
Command Community Support--Award also known as the Abilene Trophy--for 
their support of Scott Air Force Base in 2012.
  The Abilene Trophy is presented annually to a civilian community 
recognized for providing outstanding support to a nearby US Air Force 
Air Mobility Command base. The award has been presented every year 
since 1998 and highlights the role our communities play in support of 
our service men and women and their families.
  Scott Air Force Base in St. Clair County, IL, is home to the 375th 
Air Mobility Wing, the Air Force Reserve Command's 932nd Airlift Wing, 
and the Illinois Air National Guard's 126th Air Refueling Wing. Scott 
Air Force Base also headquarters major military organizations such as 
USTRANSCOM, the Air Force Global Logistics Support Center, and the Air 
Mobility Command. Winning the prestigious Abilene Trophy is 
particularly meaningful, given the multiple missions supported there.
  The nomination package for the Abilene Trophy cited over 270 examples 
of how the surrounding communities have supported military personnel at 
the base, including in-kind donations such as $500,000 worth of 
documented material aid through the H.E.R.O.E.S. Care program. 
Partnerships were built that could help servicemembers and their 
families find appropriate resources. Servicemembers and their families 
were recognized by major league sports teams such as the Cardinals and 
the Rams and by community schools and businesses. Countless other 
examples of generosity, support and gratitude from the community have 
provided financial, physical, and emotional support throughout the 
year.
  We owe a great debt of gratitude to the men and women who have 
sacrificed their lives or go to work every day to protect our country. 
I am proud to support those who have done so much for our Nation and am 
just as proud of those communities that do the same.
  Congratulations to the Southwestern Illinois and St. Louis regions on 
winning the Abilene Trophy. Tomorrow's awards ceremony reminds us of 
your commitment to our servicemembers at Scott Air Force Base and to 
our military families.

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