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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E171]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RECOGNIZING MARY PETTINATO, CEO OF HONOR FLIGHT CHICAGO
______
HON. MIKE QUIGLEY
of illinois
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, February 13, 2019
Mr. QUIGLEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mary Pettinato
and her contributions to our community, our city, and our country
throughout her distinguished service as the CEO of Honor Flight
Chicago. Founded in 2008, Honor Flight Chicago provides a once in a
lifetime opportunity for Chicago-area veterans of World War II and the
Korean War by flying them to Washington, DC to visit memorials
dedicated to their service.
Following Ms. Pettinato's graduation from Northwestern University's
Kellogg School of Management in 2008, she cofounded the Chicago chapter
of Honor Flight. This idea came after Mary asked of her father: ``If
you were on your deathbed, what's one thing you would wish you'd done
during your lifetime?'' He answered that his wish was to visit the
World War II Memorial in Washington. On the subsequent trip they took
to the Memorial, Mary was inspired to not only provide this opportunity
to her father, but also to thousands of other veterans living in
Chicago who might never have the chance to visit this and other
historic monuments.
During the decade that Ms. Pettinato served as CEO of Honor Flight
Chicago, the organization organized 88 flights from Chicago to
Washington. They started with sixty veterans on their first flight;
now, they fly upwards of ninety service members on each trip and have
had over eight thousand veterans participate in the program over the
past ten years.
In 2015, Ms. Pettinato was honored by The Chicago Tribune as one of
their `` Remarkable Women'' in a series of profiles written about
inspiring women in the area. Mary' s feature focused on her love of
family, and how that passion led to the creation of the Chicago chapter
of Honor Flight with three other women.
In the Tribune article, Ms. Pettinato offered an anecdote that
demonstrates the achievement of Honor Flight Chicago. She recalls, ``I
was with one man, he was 92, and he was struggling with some things and
having a tough day. As we got off the plane on the return for the
welcome home celebration--he (had been) in a wheelchair the entire
day--he said, ``I want to walk.'' And he got out of his wheelchair and
he had someone on his left and someone on his right and we were holding
him very firmly and he walked through this procession. Someone leaned
over and said, ``Bob, how was your day?'' And he stopped and said,
``I've never been to heaven, but I'm guessing today was mighty close.''
Madam Speaker, I ask all of my colleagues to join me in recognizing
the ten years of dedication Ms. Pettinato has shown to the veterans of
Chicago. Through the Honor Flight experience, she has brought joy to
many of our country's heroes.
____________________
