I was proud to attend the Columbus Air Force Base 14th Flying Training Wing Change of Command Ceremony, where Colonel James Blech relinquished command to Colonel Joshua Jensen. The 14th Flying Training Wing operates more than 200 aircraft, flying over 46,000 sorties and 65,000 training hours each year to prepare more than 400 pilots and combat systems officers for service.

We are grateful for Col. Bech's leadership and dedication during his time in command and look forward to the continued success of Col. Jensen as he takes on this important role. Thank you to both leaders for their service to our nation and commitment to training the next generation of Air Force aviators.

When you ask Lee County Veteran Service Officer Ashleigh Pharr if she likes her job, expect to see a big smile. Ashleigh is passionate about connecting veterans with the services and benefits they have earned and deserve.

Ashleigh is a native of Fulton. In 2011, she enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, and her 10-year career began in Alaska. "We had to be ready to go at 50 below," Ashleigh said. "That was our motto!"

While in the Air Force, Ashleigh specialized in human resources duties, which included handling medical records and administering a wide variety of services to military personnel. Her vast experience would serve her well after the military.

In 2023, Ashleigh was recruited for another career opportunity. That's the year she became the Lee County Veteran Service Officer. "I have a passion and purpose to help vets. I help get their benefits and whatever they need. My experience in the Air Force really helped prepare me to assist veterans," Ashleigh said.

Team Kelly was proud to join Ashleigh and the Tupelo American Legion in celebrating Independence Day. Veterans from across the region gathered to commemorate this historic milestone in our nation's history. We are grateful to each and every veteran for their service and sacrifice. Because of their dedication, we have the privilege of celebrating 250 years of American freedom.

We are also thankful for Ashleigh's dedication to serving our veterans. Her service to both our great nation and our veterans will always be remembered.

We are proud to honor Vietnam Veteran David Hill. David knows a thing or two about milking cows and chasing chickens. He grew up on a dairy farm with parents Maurice and Zana and later helped care for thousands of chickens in another family venture. "Our eggs were shipped all over the place, including the State of New York," David said. "A lot of New York folks ate northeast Mississippi eggs."

The Prentiss County native remembers well the early days of his life. He grew up hearing stories of Maurice's service in World War II – most importantly, what his father planned to do after his service. "My father said if God got him home from the war, he would build a church in the Meadow Creek Community east of Wheeler," David said. "He made it home and built the Meadow Creek Methodist Church."

Patriotism is a common thread in the Hill family. When called upon to serve in the Vietnam War, David answered the call. After serving the first year, he volunteered to stay in the Army. Of his three years in the Army, David spent two years in Vietnam. David's duties were in the U.S. Army Signal Corps, where his specialty was communications. The equipment he was responsible for helped maintain communications for artillery and air strikes. "I'm very proud of my service. I wish I had contributed more. I loved the military and loved wearing the uniform."

These days, David remains active in his church, singing for 63 years in the choir. In recent years, he reconnected with his high school sweetheart. They united in marriage in January. "Sixty years after high school, Regina and I finally got married," David said. During his spare time, he remains active, regularly attending VFW and Rotary Club meetings. He is a 40-year Rotarian. His love for agriculture – specifically pine trees – gained him notoriety back in 2020 when he was selected Mississippi Tree Farmer of the Year. 

We are proud of David's service to our great nation and for his devotion to God, country, and family.

America is unique because we are founded on freedom – freedom of speech, freedom of religion, the right to vote, the opportunity to build a life through hard work, and the ability to disagree peacefully while remaining one nation. Those freedoms are not guaranteed. Every generation has the responsibility to preserve them

That is why civics education matters – and it is clearly important to young people in Mississippi and across America who are competitors in the National Civics Bee. I was honored to participate in the Mississippi State Finals hosted by the CREATE Foundation in Tupelo.

All of the participants demonstrated their commitment to the study of civics through this competition. Congratulations to Skylar Wilson of Ingomar Attendance Center for earning first place. Skylar will advance to the national competition in Washington, D.C., where first-place winners from across the nation will compete for the championship.

We also congratulate Elias Miguel Jimenez of Corinth Middle School for earning second place and Elizabeth Hall of Ingomar Attendance Center for placing third. These accomplishments are a testament to the students' hard work.

[Please click here for more information about the National Civics Bee]

We were honored to welcome Abigail Presley, the 2026 winner of the Congressional Art Competition for Mississippi's First Congressional District, to our D.C. office. Abigail and her family traveled to our nation's capital to attend the national awards ceremony, where her winning watercolor painting, Legacy, was recognized alongside artwork from student winners across the country.

Abigail's painting, Legacy, was inspired by her family's deep commitment to military service. Her father, Edward Presley, a former West Point cadet, is featured in the artwork and now works in Iuka with Northrop Grumman, helping build B-21 Raiders. Her brother, who is also depicted in the painting, is an ROTC cadet at the University of Memphis. He has completed Air Assault School at Fort Campbell at Fort Campbell and is attending U.S. Army Airborne School at Fort Benning this summer.

Abigail's artwork will be displayed in the Cannon Tunnel leading to the U.S. Capitol for the next year, where it will be viewed by visitors from across the nation. We congratulate Abigail once again on this outstanding achievement and commend her exceptional talent.

The Congressional Art Competition provides an opportunity to recognize and encourage young artists across the nation and throughout Mississippi's First Congressional District. Established in 1982, the competition allows members of Congress to celebrate the artistic achievements of their young constituents.

For more information about the Congressional Art Competition, visit trentkelly.house.gov or contact Melinda Whited at (662) 687-1525 or melinda.whited@mail.house.gov.

Small businesses are the backbone of the economy – in Mississippi and across America. These entrepreneurs invest their time, talent, and resources to provide goods and services while pursuing the American dream of building a successful business. We applaud their dedication and hope their entrepreneurial spirit inspires others to follow their example. 

We are proud to introduce one of Mississippi's First Congressional District's newest small business owners: Rebekah Presley, a recent Corinth High School graduate and founder of Bekah Bakes.

As one of seven children, Rebekah found a way to stand out – in the kitchen. She began baking cookies to share with her teachers and coaches at school, and her sweet treats quickly gained popularity. "One of my coaches said I should be charging way more for my cookies," Rebekah said. "For me, it was something I enjoyed doing, so I didn't want to charge much."

Rebekah's dream is to one day open her own cafe, but for now, she is creating baked goods from her home. "I make all kinds of cookies, and I even offer chocolate-covered strawberries," Rebekah said.

Rebekah is the daughter of Edward and Michelle Presley. Her sister, Abigail Presley, is the 2026 winner of the Congressional Art Competition for Mississippi's First District.

Mississippi continues to strengthen its position as a leader in American manufacturing, with new investments continuing to drive growth across the state. Aluminum Dynamics is developing a recycled aluminum slab center in the Golden Triangle Industrial Park that will recycle aluminum-bearing materials into aluminum slabs for the manufacturing industry. This investment will create 100 new jobs in Lowndes County and expand opportunities for hardworking Mississippians.

I'm proud to see continued investment in Mississippi's manufacturing sector and the economic growth it brings to our state.

U.S. Navy Vice Admiral Robert Gaucher

National FFA Organization

Mississippi Soybean Growers

Assistant Minister for Defence Peter Khalil MP and Australian Ambassador Greg Moriarty

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