[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 9988]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




     RECOGNIZING MILITARY APPRECIATION NIGHT AT ROGER DEAN STADIUM

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                          HON. PATRICK MURPHY

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 11, 2014

  Mr. MURPHY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize 
Military Appreciation Night at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Florida. 
This event serves to honor and recognize all those who serve and who 
have served in our military to protect our great nation. The event will 
be held the day before Independence Day when we celebrate our nation's 
freedom, which we owe to the men and women who serve in our Armed 
Forces. The Stadium will hold a ceremony recognizing veterans on the 
field and present a special color guard for the occasion. This event 
allows us to demonstrate our respect for the men and women who serve in 
our military and all that they do for us and our country, and to honor 
those who sacrificed everything and lost their lives in the line of 
duty. This event allows us not only to celebrate our nation's freedom 
and independence but also to remember all those who don a uniform 
signifying the protection of our country's citizens by means of 
protecting our freedoms.
  Over Memorial Day weekend, I was humbled to have had the opportunity 
to spend this most solemn holiday with our troops stationed in 
Afghanistan. A few weeks later, I was honored to greet local veterans 
at the World War II Memorial while they were on their Honor Flight to 
D.C. for the 70th Anniversary of D-Day. From active duty to WWII 
veterans, our country is forever indebted to the sacrifices they have 
made in service to our nation. From an unacceptable benefits claim 
backlog, mistreatment at the VA, and the disgraceful high rates of 
unemployment, homelessness, and suicide among our nation's heroes, it 
is clear that our nation has been failing these heroes once they return 
home. We must--and will--do better.
  That is why I have been pleased to see bipartisan support for my 
efforts to help reduce the backlog and increase mental health and 
suicide prevention efforts for our veterans. I hope to see the same 
support for my recent proposals to reduce the appeals claims backlog 
and expand educational opportunities for veterans and military 
families. Our nation's heroes should not have to wait years to receive 
the benefits they have earned or have to fight for a job after fighting 
for our nation and these common sense proposals will help address these 
serious issues, reassuring our veterans, troops, and their families 
that we will be there for them as they have been there for our nation.
  While we rededicate ourselves to better serving our veterans, troops, 
and military families, we must do so always remembering the ultimate 
sacrifice that many of their comrades, friends, and families made for 
our nation. This is one of the best ways we can pay tribute to our 
fallen heroes, including the 18th District's own Marine Corps Corporal 
Ian T. Zook of Port St. Lucie, Army Captain Adam P. Snyder of Fort 
Pierce, Marine Corps Lance Corporal Justin J. Wilson of Palm City, Army 
Specialist Jordan C. Schumann of Port St. Lucie, Navy Chief Petty 
Officer Aaron C. Vaughn of Stuart, and Army Sergeant Justin R. Johnson 
of Hobe Sound. All of these men were selfless heroes whose sacrifices 
will never be forgotten.
  Mr. Speaker, as Military Appreciation Night is recognized at Roger 
Dean Stadium, I encourage my colleagues to join me and the residents of 
Jupiter, Florida in pausing to appreciate all that these brave men and 
women have done for our country by encouraging similar local events of 
recognition across the nation.

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