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ask.heather@mail.house.gov
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In Washington DC
442 Cannon House
Office Building
Washington, DC
20515
202-225-6316 Phone
202-225-4975 Fax |
In Albuquerque
20 First Plaza NW
Suite 603
Albuquerque, NM
87102
505-346-6781 Phone
505-346-6723 Fax |  |
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Congresswoman Heather Wilson, First Congressional District of New Mexico
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| Thanking Our Troops |
January 14, 2005 |
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Dear Friends,
Scott Turner`s leg injury kept him off the field for the Denver Broncos this year, but he was happy to join members of the House Armed Services Committee as we visited with soldiers and families at bases that have large numbers of folks deployed. The crew of the well used Marine CH-53 that took us from Camp Lejeune, North Carolina to Seymour-Johnson Air Force base gave him the helmet with the head set so that they could talk to him.
I couldn`t hear their words, but their faces told me a lot. The NFL athlete perched sideways in the cockpit door, clearly enjoying the ride and admiring the skill of the young men doing the job. The Marines answered questions and laughed with an NFL pro before the disposable cameras were brought out of the leg pockets of flight suits and the autographs signed.
Last November, after the election, I approached Duncan Hunter, Chair of the Armed Services Committee, and Ike Skelton, our most senior Democrat from Missouri. Elections can be bitter things and I thought our troops and their families at some of our bases that have a lot of people deployed needed to know that, irrespective of party, we care about them. They both thought it was a good idea and last week we went.
The trip was curtailed by the need to delay in Washington until the electoral votes were counted, but it was good to listen to the troops and talk to their families. Scott Turner was kind of the USO part of the trip. There was something he said at each of our stops that stuck with me, in part because he was so sincere about it.
"What we do on Sunday is entertainment. It lasts a few hours. On Monday we watch the films and it`s over. What you do lasts for generations. My safety and my children`s safety is what you give us. You are all my heroes and my champions."
Our last stop was Fort Bliss, Texas. After having lunch in the chow hall with some Patriot missile crews, we went out to the tarmac to welcome home the 31st Combat Support Hospital. An American Airlines chartered jet landed and down the stairs came about 300 men and women who have been stationed in Balad and Baghdad for the last year. We were part of a receiving line that shook every hand as they filed past into formation to march behind the Army band across the tarmac to the terminal were their excited families cheered and waved signs and banners.
Vietnam vets often tell me what it was like to come home to a divided country. Nobody said thank you or welcome home. We won`t make that mistake with this generation.
These soldiers, airmen and marines are serving well and honorably. We appreciate their service and the support of their families.
Wish you were here,
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