Floor SpeechNeutral2026-05-19

HONORING THE VIETNAM AND KOREAN WAR VETERANS OF ILLINOIS

Veterans

Context

On 2026-05-19, Representative Mike Quigley (D-IL-5) delivered a floor speech titled "HONORING THE VIETNAM AND KOREAN WAR VETERANS OF ILLINOIS" in the House.

Full Text

HONORING THE VIETNAM AND KOREAN WAR VETERANS OF ILLINOIS

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 85 (Tuesday, May 19, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 85 (Tuesday, May 19, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Pages E463-E464] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING THE VIETNAM AND KOREAN WAR VETERANS OF ILLINOIS ______ HON. MIKE QUIGLEY of illinois in the house of representatives Tuesday, May 19, 2026 Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the Vietnam and Korean War veterans who will travel to Washington, D.C. on May 20, 2026, with Honor Flight Chicago, a program that provides WWII, Vietnam, and Korean War veterans the opportunity to visit their memorials on The National Mall in Washington, D.C. These memorials were built to honor their courage and service to their country. The American Veteran is one of our greatest treasures. The Soldiers, Airmen, Sailors, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen who will travel here on May 20, 2026, answered our Nation's call to service during one of its greatest times of need. From the Pacific Asian Theatre to the Korean Theater, these brave Americans risked life and limb, gave service, and sacrificed much, all while embodying what it is to be a hero. We owe them more gratitude than can ever be expressed. I welcome these brave veterans to Washington and to their memorials. I am proud to include in the Record the names of these men and women for all to see, hear, and recognize, and I call on my colleagues to rise and join me in expressing gratitude. Kenneth D. Agema, Robert D. Anderson, Dennis J. Archer, Darryl E. Backstrom, Larry C. Beall, Karl A. Berglund, Peter J. Bistolfo, William J. Bleecker, James G. Buer, Leonard Bunge, Edward J. Butler, Mario O. Candia, Michael B. Casale, Joseph D. Cecala, Sr., Daniel B. Clark, Michael A. Connelly, Thomas J. Connors, William J. Connors, Robert L. Coyer, Roger S. Dabrowski, Michael R. Del Castillo, Gerald Den Hamer, David Frank Dillman, Stephen J. Dionne, Patrick H. Dowd, Rodney H. Dowell, James B. Ferguson, Stephen H. Fleming, Jose A. Flores, Richard M. Friedman, William J. Gallagher, Jr., Carl V. [[Page E464]] Gatto, Dennis L. Hansen, Rickey Hardy, Robert J. Harrigan, James E. Harris, Jerry Hendershott, Michael J. Higgins, Robert M. Hinton, William N. Hobday, Robert C. Holliday, Robert H. Honzik, Jeffrey C. Isenhart, Hobie T. Jackson, Robert C. Keller, Arthur E. Kent, Harold F. Kern, James W. Keyser, Edward F. Kneip, Terry W. Knowles, Raymond J. Kolasinski, William R. Kot, Leonard Kukulka, Dennis J. Kwait, Paul T. La Falce, Donald F. Lundy, Denise M. Lynch, Wayne T. Macejak, John W. Mason, Douglas M. Massier, John A. McAndrews, Jr., William E. McCabe, Stanley J. McGraw, Terrence McLoughlin, Robert J. Mizgata, James C. Mladic, William J. Mladic, William T. Morrison, Othos E. Morrow, Richard J. Mrozinski, Jr., Steven F. Munz, Michael F. Napadow, Gary W. Nielsen, John J. Orlando, Thomas W. Osowski, George J. Palka, Joseph P. Palm, Brian A. Pate, Gregory L. Patras, William Perrill, Michael L. Pfeffer, Joseph W. Pisterzi, Trainimair C. Platte, Jr., James C. Prorok, Winston C. Rasmussen, Jack C. Rauscher, Sylvester Roach, John J. Rogan, Adrienne L. Rubinkowski, Terrence P. Ruettiger, Gerald L. Sandretto, Bruce A. Scariano, David Scariano, Donald A. Schoenfielder, Robert J. Schutte, William B. Sebrell, Lynetta Smith, Joseph J. Sowinski, Charles W. Speake, Raymond W. Stetz, Ronald W. Stevenson, Dennis D. Story, Douglas A. Strasburg, Donald J. Tira, Joel R. Tira, Robert J. Tracy, Michael B. Troth, James J. Utz, Maximo Valdez, Peter A. Van Merkestyn, Stanley Vaughn, Gregory J. Vickner, Thomas J. Wadman, William H. Webb, Richard K. Wilken, Jerome J. Wojtena, and Thomas M. Woods. ____________________

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HONORING THE VIETNAM AND KOREAN WAR VETERANS OF ILLINOIS Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 85 (Tuesday, May 19, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 85 (Tuesday, May 19, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Pages E463-E464] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING THE VIETNAM AND KOREAN WAR VETERANS OF ILLINOIS ______ HON. MIKE QUIGLEY of illinois in the house of representatives Tuesday, May 19, 2026 Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the Vietnam and Korean War veterans who will travel to Washington, D.C. on May 20, 2026, with Honor Flight Chicago, a program that provides WWII, Vietnam, and Korean War veterans the opportunity to visit their memorials on The National Mall in Washington, D.C. These memorials were built to honor their courage and service to their country. The American Veteran is one of our greatest treasures. The Soldiers, Airmen, Sailors, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen who will travel here on May 20, 2026, answered our Nation's call to service during one of its greatest times of need. From the Pacific Asian Theatre to the Korean Theater, these brave Americans risked life and limb, gave service, and sacrificed much, all while embodying what it is to be a hero. We owe them more gratitude than can ever be expressed. I welcome these brave veterans to Washington and to their memorials. I am proud to include in the Record the names of these men and women for all to see, hear, and recognize, and I call on my colleagues to rise and join me in expressing gratitude. Kenneth D. Agema, Robert D. Anderson, Dennis J. Archer, Darryl E. Backstrom, Larry C. Beall, Karl A. Berglund, Peter J. Bistolfo, William J. Bleecker, James G. Buer, Leonard Bunge, Edward J. Butler, Mario O. Candia, Michael B. Casale, Joseph D. Cecala, Sr., Daniel B. Clark, Michael A. Connelly, Thomas J. Connors, William J. Connors, Robert L. Coyer, Roger S. Dabrowski, Michael R. Del Castillo, Gerald Den Hamer, David Frank Dillman, Stephen J. Dionne, Patrick H. Dowd, Rodney H. Dowell, James B. Ferguson, Stephen H. Fleming, Jose A. Flores, Richard M. Friedman, William J. Gallagher, Jr., Carl V. [[Page E464]] Gatto, Dennis L. Hansen, Rickey Hardy, Robert J. Harrigan, James E. Harris, Jerry Hendershott, Michael J. Higgins, Robert M. Hinton, William N. Hobday, Robert C. Holliday, Robert H. Honzik, Jeffrey C. Isenhart, Hobie T. Jackson, Robert C. Keller, Arthur E. Kent, Harold F. Kern, James W. Keyser, Edward F. Kneip, Terry W. Knowles, Raymond J. Kolasinski, William R. Kot, Leonard Kukulka, Dennis J. Kwait, Paul T. La Falce, Donald F. Lundy, Denise M. Lynch, Wayne T. Macejak, John W. Mason, Douglas M. Massier, John A. McAndrews, Jr., William E. McCabe, Stanley J. McGraw, Terrence McLoughlin, Robert J. Mizgata, James C. Mladic, William J. Mladic, William T. Morrison, Othos E. Morrow, Richard J. Mrozinski, Jr., Steven F. Munz, Michael F. Napadow, Gary W. Nielsen, John J. Orlando, Thomas W. Osowski, George J. Palka, Joseph P. Palm, Brian A. Pate, Gregory L. Patras, William Perrill, Michael L. Pfeffer, Joseph W. Pisterzi, Trainimair C. Platte, Jr., James C. Prorok, Winston C. Rasmussen, Jack C. Rauscher, Sylvester Roach, John J. Rogan, Adrienne L. Rubinkowski, Terrence P. Ruettiger, Gerald L. Sandretto, Bruce A. Scariano, David Scariano, Donald A. Schoenfielder, Robert J. Schutte, William B. Sebrell, Lynetta Smith, Joseph J. Sowinski, Charles W. Speake, Raymond W. Stetz, Ronald W. Stevenson, Dennis D. Story, Douglas A. Strasburg, Donald J. Tira, Joel R. Tira, Robert J. Tracy, Michael B. Troth, James J. Utz, Maximo Valdez, Peter A. Van Merkestyn, Stanley Vaughn, Gregory J. Vickner, Thomas J. Wadman, William H. Webb, Richard K. Wilken, Jerome J. Wojtena, and Thomas M. Woods. ____________________