Floor SpeechCeremonial2026-06-08

HONORING AMERICA 250 AND THE DAUGHTERS OF THE UNION VETERANS OF THE CIVIL WAR BENCH DEDICATION IN WICHITA

Foreign PolicyLaborVeterans

Context

On 2026-06-08, Representative Ron Estes (R-KS-4) delivered a floor speech titled "HONORING AMERICA 250 AND THE DAUGHTERS OF THE UNION VETERANS OF THE CIVIL WAR BENCH DEDICATION IN WICHITA" in the House.

Full Text

HONORING AMERICA 250 AND THE DAUGHTERS OF THE UNION VETERANS OF THE CIVIL WAR BENCH DEDICATION IN WICHITA

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 96 (Monday, June 8, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 96 (Monday, June 8, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E538] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING AMERICA 250 AND THE DAUGHTERS OF THE UNION VETERANS OF THE CIVIL WAR BENCH DEDICATION IN WICHITA _____ HON. RON ESTES of kansas in the house of representatives Monday, June 8, 2026 Mr. ESTES. Mr. Speaker, on June 6, the Daughters of the Union Veterans of the Civil War, Kansas Tent No. 6, dedicated a bench at the Dole VA Center in Wichita. I'm pleased today to recognize their efforts to honor the men and women who served our country and celebrate the United States' milestone on July 4 of this year. In less than a month, our nation will be celebrating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. As we near this special occasion, it's fitting to remember that throughout our country's history, men and women have answered the call to serve-- to defend the very liberties that our Founding Fathers enshrined on that document 250 years ago. When the signers of the Declaration of Independence dipped their quill pens in ink and applied their signatures to parchment, they knew that it was not the ink that would bind our nation together for years to come, but the blood of patriots who would fight to gain independence from a foreign monarchy and who would continue to fight to maintain our freedoms for generations to come. The blessings of liberty we share today are only possible because of the men and women who donned the uniform for the past 250 years. We can celebrate our semiquincentennial because of the countless soldiers, Marines, sailors, airmen, coast guardsmen and guardians who are the reason our country still stands today. Kansas has long been at the forefront of defending the United States in the air, on land and at sea. We are proud to be home to notable heroes such as President Dwight Eisenhower, medal of Honor recipient Lieutenant Erwin Bleckley, and Senator Bob Dole, the namesake of the medical center that will be home to this new bench. Kansas sends our best to serve, and for their sacrifices today and over the last 250 years, we are eternally grateful. I want to thank the Kansans who have worked to establish a bench that honors our heroes and celebrates our Nation's 250th anniversary. This will not only serve as a great reminder of our Nation's history, but also encourage us to continue advancing the values we share as Americans, and to honor the men and women who make our 250 years possible. ____________________

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HONORING AMERICA 250 AND THE DAUGHTERS OF THE UNION VETERANS OF THE CIVIL WAR BENCH DEDICATION IN WICHITA Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 96 (Monday, June 8, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 96 (Monday, June 8, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E538] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING AMERICA 250 AND THE DAUGHTERS OF THE UNION VETERANS OF THE CIVIL WAR BENCH DEDICATION IN WICHITA _____ HON. RON ESTES of kansas in the house of representatives Monday, June 8, 2026 Mr. ESTES. Mr. Speaker, on June 6, the Daughters of the Union Veterans of the Civil War, Kansas Tent No. 6, dedicated a bench at the Dole VA Center in Wichita. I'm pleased today to recognize their efforts to honor the men and women who served our country and celebrate the United States' milestone on July 4 of this year. In less than a month, our nation will be celebrating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. As we near this special occasion, it's fitting to remember that throughout our country's history, men and women have answered the call to serve-- to defend the very liberties that our Founding Fathers enshrined on that document 250 years ago. When the signers of the Declaration of Independence dipped their quill pens in ink and applied their signatures to parchment, they knew that it was not the ink that would bind our nation together for years to come, but the blood of patriots who would fight to gain independence from a foreign monarchy and who would continue to fight to maintain our freedoms for generations to come. The blessings of liberty we share today are only possible because of the men and women who donned the uniform for the past 250 years. We can celebrate our semiquincentennial because of the countless soldiers, Marines, sailors, airmen, coast guardsmen and guardians who are the reason our country still stands today. Kansas has long been at the forefront of defending the United States in the air, on land and at sea. We are proud to be home to notable heroes such as President Dwight Eisenhower, medal of Honor recipient Lieutenant Erwin Bleckley, and Senator Bob Dole, the namesake of the medical center that will be home to this new bench. Kansas sends our best to serve, and for their sacrifices today and over the last 250 years, we are eternally grateful. I want to thank the Kansans who have worked to establish a bench that honors our heroes and celebrates our Nation's 250th anniversary. This will not only serve as a great reminder of our Nation's history, but also encourage us to continue advancing the values we share as Americans, and to honor the men and women who make our 250 years possible. ____________________