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Dear Friends,
This week, we will observe the three-year anniversary of the devastating tornadoes that rocked the cities of Mayflower and Vilonia. Since then, we have seen the remarkable recovery of those communities due in large part to the spirit of their citizens and their citizen-driven strategic plans to rebuild themselves.
The construction of new streets, a new playground, and a new safe room within the completely rebuilt Frank Mitchell Intermediate School are all testaments to the resiliency of the great people of these two towns. I was proud to partner with the people of Vilonia and Mayflower and their fine local leaders like Faulkner County Judge Jim Baker, Vilonia Mayor James Firestone, and Mayflower Mayor Randy Holland on ways to continue rebuilding these communities.
A large portion of my partnership with local leaders in wake of the tornadoes is in seeking ways to better prepare when Mother Nature decides to strike. We all know there is no way to foresee most natural disasters, but that doesn’t mean we should be entirely unprepared in the event they do occur. I am excited to announce that my office will be hosting a disaster preparation event on April 29th at 9:00 AM CT at the Brewer-Hegeman Conference Center on the campus of the University of Central Arkansas.
Schedule of events for Saturday's Disaster Preparation Seminar at the Brewer-Hegeman Conference Center at UCA. |
Representatives from the Red Cross, National Weather Service, Arkansas Department of Emergency Management, Arkansas Department of Human Services, United Methodist Committee on Relief, and Catholic Charities of Arkansas each will be participating and providing their specific expertise in how to better prepare for tornadoes, flooding, and severe storms. In addition, an instructor from the Conway Regional Medical center will offer CPR classes and certification.
I invite each of you to participate this event on April 29th. Disasters strike without a moment’s notice and the problems are compounded when citizens are unprepared to deal with them. However, we don’t have to be unprepared, and by listening to the emergency management experts, our community can be made a little bit safer in the event of disaster.
Sincerely,
Representative French Hill |
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Hill Honors Four Vietnam Heroes
KATV
April 18, 2017
Arkansas Congressman French Hill awarded four veterans with the Silver Star in Little Rock Monday, the 45th anniversary of their heroic actions in Vietnam.
On April 18, 1972, Robert J. Monette, John F. Deslouriers, Leonard B. Shearer, and Robert A. Frank flew their helicopter into enemy territory to rescue seven U.S. crew members whose C-130 aircraft went down.
Frank, the mission commander, told Channel 7 News he remembers watching the burning aircraft crash into a field.
Rep. Hill with the four Silver Star Recipients, three of the men they saved, their Unit Commander Jack Shields and Arkansas Second Congressional Military and Veteran District Representatives Tom McNabb and David Carnahan. |
"As we approached the aircraft, we didn't think anyone had survived it...and as we got closer we heard a directional locator beacon. So we thought, well maybe somebody survived it. We hovered up close to the aircraft. The pilot and another fella and they had a wounded Vietnamese crewman. Three of them came up and we said how many people are we looking for? He said we had a crew of seven. So the crew of seven - we said, 'Quick, get those guys on.' That’s when Specialist Shearer, the crew chief, went into the aircraft and pulled some more people out."
Maumelle native and unit commander, Jack Shields, worked with Rep. Hill and the Department of Defense to have the four men awarded the Silver Star medals.
The Silver Star is the U.S. Military's third highest decoration for bravery in combat.
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Rep. Hill taking a quick break to admire the scenery while leading a hike to the top of Sugar Loaf Mountain. |
Rep. Hill with Holocaust survivor Fred Hilsenrath (left), his wife, Eleanor (center right), and Fairfield Bay Mayor Paul Wellenberger (right) following Mr. Hilsenrath's speech to Rep. Hill and his staff on Wednesday night at the Fairfield Bay Conference Center. |
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