PAYING TRIBUTE TO HONOR THE LIVES OF OHIO NATIONAL GUARD MEMBERS

PAYING TRIBUTE TO HONOR THE LIVES OF OHIO NATIONAL GUARD MEMBERS

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 50 (Thursday, March 19, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 50 (Thursday, March 19, 2026)] [House] [Page H2606] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] PAYING TRIBUTE TO HONOR THE LIVES OF OHIO NATIONAL GUARD MEMBERS (Ms. KAPTUR asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute.) Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, we rise today with heavy hearts and deep gratitude to honor three courageous Ohio National Guard members who gave their lives in service to our Nation: Captain Seth Koval, Captain Curtis Angst, and Master Sergeant Tyler Simmons of the 121st Air Refueling Wing from Columbus, Ohio--one of the most difficult maneuvers in aviation. These airmen answered our country's call without hesitation. They carried America's mission far beyond our shores. They stood for something greater than themselves, defending liberty and patriotic values that define us as a nation. They were not only skilled professionals, but also patriots in the truest sense--men of honor, character, and quiet strength. Their loss is felt deeply across Ohio, in Stoutsville, in Wilmington, in Columbus, and across our grateful Republic. We remember not only how they died, but how they lived: with courage, duty, and unwavering devotion to the United States of America. Their sacrifice reminds us that freedom is never free and that it endures because of heroes like them. True to the 121st's vision to be masters of airpower, safeguarding liberty and security for Ohio and the United States, they pay tribute to the Air Force's core values of integrity first, service before self, and excellence in all we do. These fallen heroes embody this spirit. May God bless them, bless their families, and bless their colleagues. May God bless the United States of America in the days ahead. Mr. Speaker, I ask for a moment of silence in their memory. ____________________