[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 14]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 20062-20063]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 HONORING SERGEANT THEODORE TRAVIS, SR.

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BRIAN HIGGINS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 10, 2015

  Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, I stand before you today to pay tribute to 
Sergeant Theodore Travis, Sr., a man committed to duty and family, who 
lost his life in service to this nation.
  A Niagara Falls, New York native, Theodore Travis chose active-duty 
to support his young family after serving in the U.S. Army Reserves. He 
was a member of an elite team, the 101st Airborne--a Screaming Eagle 
and initially traveled to Fort Campbell, leaving behind his wife, high 
school sweetheart Cynthia, and two young sons, Theodore Jr. and Stefan. 
Sergeant Travis left the United States with his unit on an assignment 
to aid peace negotiations between Egypt and Israel.
  Following their mission, Sergeant Travis and his comrades boarded a 
plane in high spirits and with great anticipation of returning to their 
families for Christmas. Tragically they never

[[Page 20063]]

made it home. On December 12th, 1985, Arrow Air Flight 1285, carrying 
homeward bound members of the 3rd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 
2nd Brigade Combat Team, crashed in Gander, Newfoundland. On that day 
248 members of the 101st Airborne Division, including Sergeant Travis, 
were killed in the worst air disaster in U.S. military history.
  This year, as we recognize the 30th anniversary of this disaster, 
family, friends and the community will gather at New Hope Baptist 
Church in Niagara Falls to remember Sergeant Travis, known to all as a 
``giver.'' He gave help to his community, gave his faith to the church, 
gave his love to his wife and children, and gave himself in service to 
the military in defense of this country, in the name of peace abroad, 
and in hopes of giving his family a better life.
  So today, on behalf of a grateful nation, with a heavy heart we 
remember Sergeant Theodore Travis, Sr., who in selfless service to the 
United States of America, gave until he could give no more. Sergeant 
Travis, his family, and the others who lost their lives on Flight 1285 
will be forever remembered for the great sacrifices they have made.

                          ____________________