March 24, 2017

Dear Friend,

In these uncertain times, nothing is more important than protecting our national security. Congress is moving forward with this commitment through close examination of U.S. military readiness at all levels. While our work continues to strengthen our military might, we must also continue our efforts to build and maintain relationships with those who help us protect America - our allies.

At the invitation of Senator Roger Wicker, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, I was honored to join a bipartisan congressional delegation in February to the Winter Meeting of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Parliamentary Assembly in Vienna. The OSCE is an important tool in U.S. foreign policy. Our participation sends a message to both our allies and potential adversaries that the U.S. Congress is committed to addressing issues that have the potential to impact us all. Up for discussion were such issues as terrorism, Russian aggression in Ukraine, and human rights.

For more information about the trip, you can read my column in Sunday's Daily Journal.

Vietnam Memorial Replica Wall

More than 58,000 men and women lost their lives during the Vietnam War. Every year, thousands of people travel to Washington D.C. to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial to pay their respects to these American heroes. Tupelo will soon offer the opportunity to view the names of the fallen. In 2011, Janie Alexander, Barbara Rushing, and Trent Barnett decided that a Vietnam Memorial needed to be closer to home. They joined forces with many others to get the support needed to make this project a reality. Jerry Stubblefield, an architect, volunteered to do the design work. Tupelo offered up the land for the 300-foot-long, black granite memorial. They hope to have it completed for a dedication ceremony on Veterans Day in November.

honoring fallen soldiers

We continue to honor the lives of service members with ties to Mississippi. These soldiers sacrificed their lives to protect our nation. We have submitted the details of their service into the Congressional Record.

1st Lt. Therrel Shane Childers
Cpl. Dustin Jerome Lee
SFC Christopher Lee Robinson

This week, I was honored to speak about Sergeant First Class (SFC) Robinson on C-SPAN. You can watch the video below.

a week in pictures

For more photos from a week in pictures, please visit my Facebook page.

Mississippi Future Farmers of America
representatives Kayla Mercer and Brice Fortinberry

Multiple Sclerosis Society
Mid-South Ambassador
Donna Garris-Epps with Cathy Green and
Alice Dean

Maj. Gen. (Ret) Augustus Leon Collins

Mississippi Emergency Management Agency
representatives
Lee Smithson, Stephen McCraney,
Greg Flynn, and Ray Coleman

Priscilla and Sterline Williams, Harold and
Jonett Carter, Dana and Joseph Nettles, and
Martha Samuels

For more photos from a week in pictures, please visit my Facebook page.

STAY IN TOUCH

Let me know if there is anything my office can do to assist you. You can keep up with the latest news by signing up for my newsletter and following me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Thanks for reading,

Rep. Trent Kelly (MS-01)
Member of Congress