Virginia Foxx: “Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday, I was honored to join the Ashe County High School ``Cans and Pans'' Steel Drum Band…”

“Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday, I was honored to join the Ashe County High School ``Cans and Pans'' Steel Drum Band at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center where these fine young people performed for our Nation's wounded warriors. It was a true privilege to give these student musicians, their committed parents and their band director, Scott Turnmyre, a tour of the Capitol before they played for our brave men and women in uniform. Earlier in the morning while we shared breakfast together, I was struck with how unique this group of young people is. Their desire to perform for our Nation's brave men and women in uniform illustrated the depth of their character and the caliber of their families and of the communities that have raised them. Their music, no doubt, lifted the spirits of our troops at Walter Reed Medical Center. The fact that they would travel hundreds of miles was nothing short of inspiring for all who were in attendance. I want to thank Band Director Scott Turnmyre for the long hours and hard work he put into getting this trip together and for rallying the people of Ashe County to this very worthy cause. Their generous donations helped make this trip a reality. The people at the Liaison Capitol Hill Hotel also deserve praise. When they learned about the band's plans to play for the troops at Walter Reed, they graciously reduced the band's room rates during peak tourist season.”