Political Quotes

“late last month I had the honor and the privilege to be in Sitka, AK, to honor the crew of a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter that went down in the waters off of the State of Washington. That helicopter was based at the Coast Guard Air Station Sitka. On Monday, it was my sad duty to attend yet another memorial service. A service to honor the crew of the Air Force C-17 Globemaster that crashed on Thursday evening shortly after takeoff from Elmendorf Air Force Base. Quite coincidentally, that C-17 aircraft bore the call sign ``Sitka 43.'' The C-17 crash took the lives of four of Alaska's finest airmen. MAJ Aaron Malone, age 36, who went by the nickname ``Zippy.'' MAJ Michael Freyholtz, age 34, CAPT Jeffrey Hill, age 31 and SMSgt Tom Cicardo, age 47. Major Malone, Major Freyholtz and Senior Master Sergeant Cicardo were members of the 249th Airlift Squadron of the Alaska Air National Guard. Captain Hill was active duty Air Force. He served with the 517th Airlift Squadron at Elmendorf. The C-17 mission at Elmendorf is operated as an active Air Force/Air National Guard association. As our colleague Senator Begich noted on the floor, each was exemplary in his own right. Zippy Malone was the unofficial morale officer. Michael Freyholtz began his career in the C-17 right out of pilot training. He was known as the best C-17 demonstration pilot around. But that is hardly his greatest accomplishment. Major Freyholtz flew 608 combat missions in Iraq and Afghanistan.”