Cliff Stearns: “I stand today to recognize and welcome the return of the last group of the 202nd RED HORSE Squadron, Florida's Air…”

“I stand today to recognize and welcome the return of the last group of the 202nd RED HORSE Squadron, Florida's Air National Guard engineer unit. They are headquartered at Camp Blanding, which is in my congressional district. The remaining members arrived on Friday, October 3, completing a deployment that began with its activation in January and subsequent deployment the following February. RED HORSE stands for Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineers; and, as the name suggests, these members are the workhorses for the military's heavy construction and engineering. The 202nd was relied upon as part of the first Expeditionary RED HORSE group to complete the myriad of construction projects needed to ensure Central Command and its forces accomplished its underlying mission. One of the more notable projects was the repair of the Baghdad International Airport. I had the opportunity to meet a number of these individuals and have in my congressional office the red hard hat that was signed by members of this unit. So I am thankful and proud of their service. Mr. Speaker, I welcome them home.”