Political Quotes

“The national World War I Memorial here in Washington was recently completed with a sculpture known as ``A Soldier's Journey.'' In the spirit of honoring our World War I veterans, I rise to commemorate Louis Bennett, Jr. of Weston, West Virginia. Bennett realized the power aviation could bring to the war effort and formed the West Virginia Flying Corps. When the corps failed to achieve military status, Bennett chose commendably to interrupt his studies at Yale and enlist in the British Royal Flying Corps. Bennet flew combat missions in Western Europe. Over the course of only 9 days, he amassed a remarkable high number of 12 kills of enemy aircraft. Lieutenant Bennett became known as the balloon buster for shooting down nine German surveillance balloons, which is dangerous because, when the balloons blow up, they sometimes take the plane down with them. On August 14, 1919, he was shot down and killed by German antiaircraft artillery. In honor of her only son, in 1992, Mrs. Sallie Bennett donated her stately home to Lewis County for a war memorial and library. Mrs. Bennett used her considerable wealth to fund memorials of World War I veterans. I am pleased we have a place to memorialize them here in our Nation's Capital. ____________________”