[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 9]
[Senate]
[Pages 12074-12075]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       CONGRATULATING BRIAN DUFFY

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I want to take a few moments to 
congratulate a fellow Kentuckian and a good friend of mine who has 
recently taken up the leadership reins of America's oldest and largest 
war veterans organization.
  This summer, Brian Duffy, of Louisville, was elected commander in 
chief of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Brian is the first Operation 
Desert Storm veteran to lead the VFW. His election is good news, not 
only for his fellow Desert Storm veterans but for veterans of every 
generation. That is because Brian lives to serve his fellow veterans, 
and he has been doing so for decades as a proud member of the VFW for 
33 years.
  Let me give one example of what Brian has done for the veterans of 
Kentucky. He is the founder of the Bluegrass chapter of an organization 
called Honor Flight, a group that flies World War II and Korean war 
veterans to Washington to visit the memorials that were built in 
dedication of their military service.
  The program provides transportation and food for the veterans of this 
bygone era, those whose numbers, unfortunately, continue to shrink year 
after year. Without Honor Flight, many of these veterans would never be 
able to see the World War II Memorial or the Korean War Veterans 
Memorial. It is important that they know, more than six decades later, 
that America still deeply respects and honors their service and 
sacrifice.
  My father served in World War II. I have had the pleasure of meeting 
many of his contemporaries when they came to Washington to make this 
important trip. Hundreds of Kentucky veterans have completed this 
journey, thanks to Brian and subsequent leaders of Bluegrass Honor 
Flight.
  That is just one way Brian has worked to see that America stands up 
for its veterans, just as they have so bravely stood up for their 
country. It is one reason why I know he will make an excellent 
commander in chief for the VFW.
  Brian served in the U.S. Air Force as a jet engine mechanic on F-4 
Phantom fighter aircraft before becoming a flight engineer aboard a C-
141 Starlifter transport aircraft. He has deployed to Grenada and 
Panama as well as on Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm.
  Brian and his wife Jean, who has also served in leadership posts for 
the VFW, live in Louisville and have two children, Tara and Andrew. I 
am sure his family is proud of Brian, along with many Kentucky 
veterans, particularly his fellow VFW members at Post 1170.
  Let me also congratulate my good friend Carl Kaelin, whom I have also 
worked with for decades on behalf of Bluegrass State veterans, for his 
appointment to serve as chief of staff to the commander in chief. Carl 
and Brian will make quite a team. Kentucky and the Nation are grateful 
for their leadership and for their service.
  Brian has previously served the VFW as its junior vice commander in 
chief. He also served as the senior vice commander in chief. I know 
Brian is a huge hockey fan. So he will know what I mean when I say that 
his election as commander in chief makes quite a hat trick--to the 
benefit of Kentucky veterans and veterans across America.

[[Page 12075]]

  In Brian's own words, the VFW is ``an organization of doers'' and 
``an organization comprised of patriots.'' Both of these descriptions 
aptly fit the VFW's new chief. Under Brian's leadership, I am sure the 
VFW will continue to pay it forward to every veteran who has raised his 
or her right hand and taken an oath to defend a nation dedicated to the 
preservation of life and liberty.

                          ____________________