[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 4] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page 5434] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]5TH ANNUAL MAYORAL SALUTE TO VETERANS ______ HON. HARRY E. MITCHELL of arizona in the house of representatives Tuesday, April 8, 2008 Mr. MITCHELL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the Annual Mayoral Salute to Veterans which has been presented for the past five years by Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon and the Phoenix Military Veterans Commission. The Salute this year on Tuesday, April 8, 2008, will focus on women veterans. This is appropriate given the rising numbers of women now serving in the armed forces and their wide-ranging and significant contributions to our nation's military efforts. Women have served honorably in every war and conflict in American history. Many paid the ultimate price in defense of our nation. We all know the story of Army PFC Lori Piestewa, an Arizona native who became the first servicewoman to be killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom and the first Native American servicewoman to ever die in battle. In 2005, Sgt. Leigh Ann Hester of the Kentucky Army National Guard became the first woman to be awarded the Silver Star for close-quarters combat action for her role in turning back an ambush on her convoy in Iraq. Madam Speaker, I want to focus special attention on seven veterans from Arizona who are being recognized today as living reminders of the honorable service that women in the armed forces have provided in overseas war zones from World War II to Operation Iraqi Freedom. Please join me in recognizing: Bettie Lerdall, U.S. Marine Corps, World War II; Grace Kokesch, U.S. Army, World War II; Louise Glende, U.S. Navy, Korean War; Carol Culbertson, U.S. Navy, Vietnam War; Belinda Blase, U.S. Air Force, Operation Desert Storm; First Lieutenant Kara C. Larson, Arizona Army National Guard, Operation Iraqi Freedom; Sgt. Rachel L. Trotter, Arizona Army National Guard, Operation Iraqi Freedom. Please join me in recognizing the service of these distinguished veterans on this special day. ____________________