Recognizing the Honor Flight of Southern Oregon

Floor Speech

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Mr. BENTZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Korean and Vietnam War veterans from Oregon's Second Congressional District who, are visiting their memorials and the WWII Memorial, because of the efforts of the Honor Flight of Southern Oregon. Whenever I have the opportunity to meet these heroes, I am reminded of the words of President Abraham Lincoln: ``The struggle of today, is not altogether for today, it is for a vast future also.'' Our veterans embody this spirit, having fought valiantly in the Korean and Vietnam Wars. Their courage and dedication remind us that the price of liberty is high. It is my privilege to include their names in the Record.

Veterans on this Honor Flight from Oregon are: Russell Bronson, Joyce Button, JoAnn Compton Taplin, James Dahl, Chad Davenport, Thomas Davis, David Ford, Jerry Fraley, Thomas Garland, Larry Grow, Eldon Hendrix, Orville Houston, John James, William Kendrick, William Koreger, Walter Lindner, James Little, Kenneth Montgomery, Dennis Paul, Richard Seehawer, Patrick Smith, Gelacio Valdez, Walter Vaughan, Robert Verlezza, and Allen Ayers. We especially honor the memory of Danyl H. Christianer, whose legacy of service will live on through this tribute.

These heroes join over 250,000 Veterans who have been honored through the nationwide Honor Flight Network of volunteers, since 2005.

Mr. Speaker, President George W. Bush once said, ``We have been the recipients of the greatest blessings of liberty ever known to man. We live in freedom because others have made the ultimate sacrifice. As a Nation, we must never take for granted, the liberties we enjoy today, recognizing that these freedoms have been hard-won by the honor, commitment, and sacrifice of our Veterans. Each Member in this chamber and every citizen in these United States should be humbled by the courage of our brave Veterans who voluntarily faced danger and adversity to preserve our country and our way of life. Colleagues, please join me in thanking these Veterans and the volunteers of Honor Flight of Southern Oregon for their remarkable service and devotion to our great country.

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