Pelosi Statement on Visit to Aviano Air Base
Pelosi Addresses the Italian Chamber of Deputies
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Contact:Brendan Daly/Nadeam Elshami, 202-226-7616
Aviano, Italy â€" Speaker Nancy Pelosi arrived today at Aviano Air Base in Italy on an official visit with other members of Congress, where they met with airmen and women.
At a ceremony attended by members of the Thirty-First Fighter Wing, Speaker Pelosi pinned the Bronze Star Medal on Technical Sergeant Phoebus Lazaridis for extraordinary service in Afghanistan. Speaker Pelosi delivered a speech in honor of the achievement by Sergeant Lazaridis and the congratulated the Thirty-First Fighter Wing on their recent awards.
The Congressional delegation also received a briefing from wing commander General Craig Franklin describing the strategic mission of the base, the roles of units assigned to the base, and the close cooperation between U.S. and Italian personnel, which is essential to the success of the base.
"We come to Aviano to bring thanks on behalf of a grateful nation to Sergeant Lazaridis for his service, to all of the airmen and women in Aviano for their service, and to all who perform heroic acts every day in our all-volunteer armed forces.
"Members of the United States Air Force serving overseas carry a special responsibility as our 'Ambassadors in Blue.' They represent the best America has to offer to the world â€" with determination. They train our allies â€" with resolve. And they carry their mission, far from home â€" with pride."
In addition to the Speaker, the following members of the delegation are: John Larson, Democratic Caucus Chair; George Miller, Chair of the Education and Labor Committee; Rosa DeLauro, Chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture; Ed Markey, Chair of Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming; Anna Eshoo, Chair of the House Select Intelligence Subcommittee on Intelligence Community Management; Michael Capuano, Member of the House Financial Services Committee; and Bill Pascrell, Jr., Member of the House Homeland Security Committee.