Recognizing the Jacksonville International Airport Military Lounge

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. BEAN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, when I'm traveling to and from my home in Florida, it always lifts my heart to see men and women in uniform at the airport. We have all seen those incredible videos . . . the moment when a deployed service member comes home to the loving embrace of a child or a spouse. Mr. Speaker, tell me you don't get choked up when you see one of those videos. Our Nation's armed forces are full of heroes who go where duty calls, and so, whether headed to deployment, or making their way home, you are know they are defending our great freedoms.

That's why today, I stand before you to recognize the new Jacksonville International Airport Military Lounge. This is a place where service men and women can feel at home, even when they are headed for a long road ahead.

This home away from home for active-duty military includes all the amenities of home, and a very special display of the flags of all branches of the military, and the POW/MIA flag, to remember those who may never come home again.

This Military Lounge is a reality due to the dedication of the North Jacksonville Rotary Club, the Veterans Council of Duval County, the NE Florida Green Beret Chapter 88 of the U.S. Army Special Forces Association. Several other veterans-civic-governmental organizations assisted in recruiting volunteers to staff the lounge.

Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to honor the Jacksonville International Airport on the grand opening of their new Military Lounge and thank them for their ongoing efforts to help our veterans, active- duty military, and their families.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source