On the recordFebruary 29, 2012
It is with a heavy heart that I bring to the attention of the House the news that a United States Coast Guard helicopter crashed last night in Mobile Bay during a training mission. Early this morning I spoke by phone to Coast Guard Sector Commander Captain Don Rose in Mobile, where he informed me that one crew member had lost his life, and three others are missing. Search efforts for the missing crew have been under way through last night and today, and they are ongoing at this time near the crash site off Point Clear, Alabama. Naturally, I offered to Captain Rose the praise and heartfelt sympathies of the Congress, as well as our entire Nation, not only to those immediate families of those brave Coasties, but to the entire Coast Guard family. Whether during a hurricane, an oil spill, or one of their daily encounters with danger when conducting a search and rescue mission, the United States Coast Guard plays a vital role that we too often take for granted. It is at times like this when we are reminded of the dangers they face in their service to our Nation. They are truly on the first line of protecting our country, and we can never thank them enough. Mr. Speaker, I ask, at this time, that all Americans lift a prayer to the Good Lord for the loss of life that has occurred. May God's blessings and healing hand be on those left behind. ____________________
