[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 2]
[Senate]
[Pages 2674-2675]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING MAINE VETERANS

  Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I rise today to honor the men and women 
who have defended America with their service and to bring to the 
attention of my colleagues some of the many outstanding ways in which 
citizens of Maine are honoring those who served and, in some cases, 
gave their lives for our country.
  U.S. Marine Corps Maj. David Cote, a Maine native, recently 
established the Summit Project, a living tribute to remember and 
memorialize each Maine servicemember who has been killed in the line of 
duty since September 11, 2001.
  As part of this living memorial, Major Cote has traveled across Maine 
to visit with the families of the fallen. He has asked each family to 
search for a stone to represent their loved one who gave his or her 
life so we could live in peace. From backyards and fishing holes to 
national forests and lakeside camps, these stones have been hand-picked 
from across Maine to represent each fallen hero.
  Beginning this Memorial Day and annually thereafter, Major Cote will 
lead commemorative tribute hikes, in which volunteers will each carry a 
stone in honor of a specific fallen servicemember. During these hiking 
expeditions, the memories of the fallen, recounted by widows, mothers, 
fathers, and friends, will be shared with the hikers embarking on their 
journey to the summit of mountains in Maine. The Summit Project was 
launched to help the families who have suffered such painful losses 
truly heal, and to ensure that the experiences of these heroes inspire 
a new generation of patriots. It will honor the heroism and patriotism 
of those who gave all for our country since 9/11 and will ensure that 
their stories and sacrifices are added to Maine's proud history of duty 
to country.
  In another unique effort, which started 23 years ago in Maine and 
which has now spread to include the entire United States and beyond, 
thousands of volunteers each year have the opportunity to recognize the 
ultimate sacrifice made by our brave servicemembers by participating in 
Wreaths Across America. This annual effort, which provides holiday 
wreaths to mark the graves of fallen servicemembers, was begun by 
Morrill and Karen Worcester of Harrington, ME.
  On December 14, 2013, approximately one dozen tractor-trailer trucks 
laden with 143,000 ``remembrance wreaths,'' all proudly made in Maine, 
were escorted to Arlington National Cemetery by the Maine State Police 
and Patriot Guard Riders. Numerous volunteers spent the morning placing 
the wreaths on the headstones of deceased veterans and reflecting on 
their courage, selflessness, and sacrifice. All told, Wreaths Across 
America shipped more than 470,000 wreaths to adorn veterans' graves in 
all 50 States and around the world.
  The mission of Wreaths Across America is to ``Remember, Honor, 
Teach.'' In addition to honoring America's fallen, the group seeks to 
promote awareness of the sacrifices made by servicemembers through 
various veterans' events and wreath laying ceremonies at State Houses 
and the U.S. Capitol. These solemn ceremonies allow us the opportunity 
to pause and remember the many men and women who have died to preserve 
our freedoms, and they encourage us to instruct younger generations so 
that those sacrifices are never forgotten.
  For those veterans who have returned home from war, our Nation must 
ensure that we facilitate their transition to life as civilians. In 
many cases, these veterans have suffered severe injuries and need 
further assistance. The third effort I highlight today focuses on one 
veteran's effort to encourage other veterans.
  U.S. Army SSG Travis Mills was on his third tour of duty in 
Afghanistan when he was critically injured by an improvised explosive 
device while on patrol. As a result, Travis lost portions of both legs 
and both arms. He is one of just five quadruple-amputees from the wars 
in Iraq and Afghanistan to survive their injuries.
  While Travis recovered at Walter Reed Medical Center, he dreamed of 
providing a camp in Maine as a recreation center for disabled veterans 
and their families--an affordable place which would provide much-needed 
quality time for families to spend together. Through the assistance of 
Dean Lachance, executive director of the Bread of Life Ministries, 
Travis was connected with Joel and Crista Lavenson, co-owners of 
Kennebec Camp's Maine Golf & Tennis Academy. Together, they transformed 
their vision into a reality, creating the National Veterans Family 
Center, where wounded veterans and their families can enjoy much needed 
rest and relaxation while participating in outdoor activities that 
include fishing, boating, and archery.

[[Page 2675]]

  We must never forget the sacrifices that have been made by all 
generations of veterans, as well as those who still serve. I am proud 
that Maine has a long history of great patriots who have died in the 
service of their country. Low on ammunition and men, Joshua Chamberlain 
courageously led the charge at Little Round Top at the Battle of 
Gettysburg. MSG Gary Gordon demonstrated great bravery during the 
Battle of Mogadishu in 1992, which led to his receiving the Medal of 
Honor. The brave Americans who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our 
freedom are no longer with us, but through efforts like The Summit 
Project, Wreaths Across America, and the National Veterans Family 
Center, we can honor their sacrifice and ensure that their legacies 
live on.

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