Recognizing Outstanding Citizens of Missouri's Fourth Congressional District
Floor Speech
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mr. ALFORD. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I thank the gentlewoman from Virginia (Ms. Wexton) for her courage. We love her, and America thanks her. Recognizing Patrick O'Hanlon
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mr. ALFORD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate our top 10 speechwriters for this year's Missouri's Fourth Congressional District Speech Competition. They were chosen to write speeches on what America means to them, and we are so proud of the work they are doing in their schools to keep the American Dream and spirit alive.
Today, we are sharing several of these speeches, the first from Patrick O'Hanlon, from Pleasant Hill, Missouri, in Cass County.
Patrick writes: ``America is a special country. We have the freedom of speech and the freedom of religion. America was built by people from around the world. Our Founding Fathers wrote an amazing Constitution and Bill of Rights that limits the government's powers and gives freedom to the people.
``When a B-2 cruised over my home on the Kansas City Royals opening day, it was such a magnificent reminder of our exceptional country. It was hard not to be overflowing with patriotism. After seeing that, I am glad they are on our side. These things are a big part of what America means to me.''
I thank Patrick for being such a shining light in the classroom and sharing what America means to him. Recognizing Natalie Myers
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mr. ALFORD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate another top 10 speechwriter, this one from Polk County, Natalie Myers, from Pleasant Hope Middle School.
``America, Where My Heart Calls Home.
``America is more than the home of the brave. It is where the heart finds home. Home is where the heart belongs. My heart is painted with the strokes of red, white, and blue. Having the freedom of religion, speech, to be who I want to be. That is what America offers me, and I thank her in deep gratitude.
``America isn't perfect, but we strive for perfection. Let's not forget the ones who fought for our land that hold the red, white, and blue. America is always ready to provide peace and win battles. America is a mighty land that embraces diversity and love. America is my home.''
I congratulate Natalie on a great job and thank her for her work. Recognizing The Cider House
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mr. ALFORD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Fourth Congressional District of Missouri's July Small Business of the Month, The Cider House, of Cass County.
Owned and operated by the Middaugh family, The Cider House was established in 2004, but the family business roots run much deeper than that. The Middaughs started their business adventure back on four corners of 7 Highway in 1978. What began as a seed company grew into a fruit market, an orchard, and a red barn that served lunch, pies, breads, jams, jellies, and much more. They began hosting home-cooked dinner buffets on the weekends, with a band playing upstairs while renting the facility.
In 2001, part of the family bought the farm, which was formerly an old horse stable, and began booking events again. With the addition of a pumpkin patch, selling seeds, and young children growing up, repurchasing the orchard seemed like just the right thing to do. For Jeanne and her husband, Chad, they did that.
Repurchasing the orchard was just what the Middaughs needed, allowing the family to rebrand the facility The Cider House and allowing them to offer farm-to-table dinners, as well as hosting events that partner with local farmers, wineries, and local artists.
Their story is an inspiring story. It reminds us all of just how hard work and family-driven spirits can pay off in Missouri's Fourth Congressional District. Recognizing Captain Charles ``Ben'' Basye
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mr. ALFORD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize, honor, and remember the July Veteran of the Month, Mr. Charles ``Ben'' Basye, who sadly passed away this month in Columbia, Missouri.
He was born in rural Howard County and attended Union School, a one- room schoolhouse there. At the age of 15, he graduated from Fayette High School. He went on to serve his Nation for nearly 43 years in our Armed Forces, spending 11 years in the U.S. Navy and almost 32 in the Naval Reserves.
In World War II, he served aboard the USS Boxer, an Essex-class carrier, where he flew multiple fighters. In 1949, he was one of the first Navy pilots to land a jet on a carrier during the earliest stages of catapult takeoff and landing operations for the Grumman F9F.
On his 60th birthday, Mr. Basye retired from the Navy with the rank of captain. During his service to our Nation, Captain Basye attended six different universities, earning bachelor's and master's degrees in engineering and a Ph.D. in engineering and mathematics. He taught 18 different engineering courses and served as a faculty adviser for 400 engineering students.
A proud father, he is survived by his four sons, six grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.
He served his Nation, his State, and his family well.
We honor Captain Basye today on the House floor as July Veteran of the Month, and we will continue to honor his life and his legacy. I thank Captain Basye for his great service. Recognizing Cackle Hatchery
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mr. ALFORD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Fourth Congressional District of Missouri's August Small Business of the Month, Cackle Hatchery, a longtime family-owned source of prime poultry.
Located in Lebanon, Missouri, Cackle Hatchery remains one of the last few hobby hatcheries in the United States. It preserves the genetics of over 200 varieties of poultry and distributes hundreds of thousands of chicks to families and farms each and every year in the United States.
As a family-owned and family-operated business since 1936, it is one of the few businesses in Lebanon that still has had the same owner, same location, and same business during that length of time.
While most hatcheries closed their doors in the mid-1960s, Cackle Hatchery continued to provide chicks through local feed stores and mail delivery.
The moniker of hobby hatchery is a representation of Cackle's customer base, not the scale of their current business itself.
I congratulate Cackle Hatchery for exceptionally producing poultry year after year. Keep up the great work. Recognizing Harold King
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mr. ALFORD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor our August Veteran of the Month, Mr. Harold King.
Mr. King attended Leigh High School in Nebraska, Utah State University, U.S. Armor School, JFK Special Warfare Center and School, and Command and General Staff College.
Mr. King joined the Army as a military policeman in 1984 and held many jobs throughout his career. Among those are armor crewman, armor officer, company commander, operations officer, and information operations officer.
In 1990, he served in Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm with 4-37 Armor 1st Division as a legacy. His grandfather was in World War II.
He left Active Duty in 1994, becoming a psychological operations officer with the 10th PSYOP Battalion in St. Louis, Missouri. Then, in 2007, Mr. Speaker, he deployed again to Iraq until 2008.
After that, King remained committed to serving his fellow veterans. He worked as a veteran service officer with the Missouri Veterans Commission for over 10 years and recently took on an additional duty of appeals specialist.
Right now, he serves as military services coordinator for the Department of Veterans Affairs at Fort Leonard Wood. There, he provides veterans and servicemembers with the information they need to fully understand the comprehensive assistance and benefits available to them.
He is a devoted father, devoted husband, grandfather to one, and papa to a crew of dogs, cats, and fish.
I congratulate our August Veteran of the Month, Major King, and I thank him for his service. Major King makes Missouri's Fourth Congressional District and America proud.
Mr. Speaker, I wish my colleagues on both sides of the aisle a safe and productive time working in their district, reconnecting with their families, and making memories.
God bless this body, and God bless the United States of America
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Source