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Happy Fourth of July weekend! I hope you enjoyed spending time with family and friends and watching fireworks fill the sky with red, white, and blue. This weekend is a great opportunity to remind ourselves of the freedom that we as Americans are fortunate enough to enjoy.
Independence Day marks the birth of our great nation, when the Continental Congress adopted the first formal statement by a nation’s people asserting their right to choose their own government – the Declaration of Independence. Our founding fathers later crafted the framework of our nation, the Constitution, which I proudly swore to protect in Congress. The first true American patriots fought hard against Britian to establish the very freedom we share today, hundreds of years later.
Protecting our sacred freedom comes with great sacrifice. America wouldn’t be what it is today, a nation founded on opportunity for all, without the courageous men and women—both past and present—who gave their lives for the greater good. We must never take our earned liberties, God-given rights, and this great nation for granted. We must never forget that freedom isn’t free. Our differences make our country special, and challenges are to be expected, but we will always be united as “One Nation Under God.”
I wish you a blessed Fourth of July weekend.
Around the District
Farewell to KURM Radio
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On Monday, we said a heartfelt farewell to KURM Radio after 45 years of service to the region. My father, Kermit Womack—The Colonel—and I turned the transmitter off for the final time. KURM had local talk shows like a free want-ad program, Dial a Trade, The Colonel’s personal talk show, Party Line, and his unique style of broadcasting covering local events, daily news, weather, and sports, with a special emphasis on production agriculture.
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Thank you to everyone who came by to celebrate The Colonel’s more than 70 years of broadcasting. It was clear how much KURM meant to so many. Although there will most certainly be a void for its loyal listeners, we are incredibly grateful for the lasting impact KURM and my father have had on our community. What a legacy!
Ebbing Air National Guard Base’s FMS Pilot Training Mission
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I had the privilege of attending the reactivation ceremony of the 85th Fighter Group and the 57th Fighter Squadron at Ebbing Air National Guard Base, signaling a monumental step forward for national and world security. These units that were activated during World War II were reactivated to train foreign military pilots right here in Fort Smith as part of the F-35 Foreign Military Sales mission.
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These units will prepare the next generation of pilots that will deploy and protect democracy worldwide. This incredible undertaking and tremendous responsibility will be borne by the people that will work in Arkansas’ Third District! It’s been an honor to work alongside local leaders, Senators Boozman and Cotton, and Governor Sanders on this critical mission. The Sound of Freedom will soon return to the River Valley!
In Case You Missed It: Telephone Town Hall
Last week, I hosted a Telephone Town Hall to hear directly what’s on the hearts and minds of the folks I proudly represent. Thank you to everyone who joined! We discussed ballooning inflation, securing the border, and more. In case you missed it, you can listen to our conversation HERE!
Have a great weekend ahead, and I hope to see you around! Be sure to check out my website, Twitter, and Instagram pages in the meantime.
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