[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 1]
[Senate]
[Pages 501-502]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES


                      MAJOR ADRIANNA VORDERBRUGGEN

  Ms. KLOBUCHAR. Mr. President, I rise today to honor U.S. Air Force 
Maj. Adrianna Vorderbruggen, who was tragically killed in the line of 
duty 4 days before Christmas when a Taliban suicide bomber rammed his 
motorcycle carrying explosives into a joint NATO-Afghan patrol near 
Bagram Air Force Base in Afghanistan. She was the highest ranking 
military officer there who was killed. There were several others who 
tragically lost their lives as well.
  Today I had the honor of attending the major's funeral service at the 
Fort Myer Memorial Chapel. Senator Franken was also there. She was laid 
to rest with full military honors at the Arlington National Cemetery. 
She is survived by her wife Heather, her son Jacob, her father Joseph, 
and her brothers, Dan, John, and Chris. I will note that three of the 
four members of the family--since I was just talking about adoption--
were, in fact, adopted.
  Adrianna was a native of my hometown of Plymouth, MN, where she 
attended my alma mater, Wayzata High School. She excelled in both 
academics and athletics and was a 3-year starter on the Wayzata High 
School women's soccer team. This is a very large suburban high school. 
The year she was a starter and captain, she led the team to the State 
championship. She was also the captain of the Wayzata High School 
hockey team.
  She went on to the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado and graduated 
in 2002. In her senior year, she led the women's rugby team to the 
national championship title. She was their cocaptain, so you can 
imagine. She was a starter on the soccer team and helped lead that team 
in high school to a State championship. She was the captain of the 
hockey team, which is a big deal in Minnesota, of a big high school, 
and she was also the cocaptain of the rugby team and helped lead that 
team to a national championship title in the Air Force. We can imagine 
the leadership Adrianna had shown through her life. She always loved 
sports--something that was talked about a lot today by her family.
  After graduating, she attended the Air Force Special Investigations 
Academy and was deployed to Iraq until 2005. In 2009 she was selected 
as an Air Force Institute of Technology student in forensic sciences 
and earned a master's degree in forensic sciences at George Washington 
University. In 2010 she became a special agent for the Air Force Office 
of Special Investigations,

[[Page 502]]

which investigates felony-level crimes committed by or against Air 
Force personnel in the United States and overseas.
  Major Vorderbruggen was also an outspoken opponent to the military's 
former don't ask, don't tell policy. She and Heather, an Air Force 
veteran, were among the first servicemembers to marry after the policy 
was rescinded in 2010. Adrianna chose to serve her country in spite of 
the military's policy and fought for reform rather than hiding her 
identity. As her older brother Chris said, ``She inspired us all, I 
think, by just being herself, and being proud to be who she was.''
  Adrianna was known by her family and friends for her positive 
attitude and her infectious smile. At the service this morning, her dad 
remembered Adrianna's ability to remain upbeat even under challenging 
circumstances. And she loved their little boy, Jacob, who was there 
today with a loving family around him.
  Major Vorderbruggen will be remembered for the work she did in 
service to her country and the work she did to make sure all brave men 
and women in uniform receive the honor and the dignity they so 
rightfully deserve.
  I am proud to call Maj. Adrianna Vorderbruggen a daughter of 
Minnesota. She gave her life for a country she loves.
  Thank you. I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Ms. KLOBUCHAR. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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