My name is
Debbie Katsounakis. I am a mother of a
soldier serving with the 341st Military Police Army Reserve
Company, SPC Nicholaus Katsounakis.
I want to take
this opportunity to thank Mayor Ron Gonzales, Vice Mayor Pat Dando,
Council Member Reed, and the other city Council members.
I want to extend a special thank you to
Denelle Fedor, for all of her amazing help, and understanding. I want to thank you for publicly recognizing
the 341st Military Police Company.
.
I stand before all of you, with so much pride. I
am so proud that the City of San Jose is recognizing the soldiers of
the 341s Military Police Company. I am so
very proud of every one of these soldiers, all 165 of them. They have served their country for almost 11
months now in Iraq, with such great honor.
Last summer,
during a phone call home from my son in Iraq, he asked me a question
that has forever repeated in my mind. He
wanted to know if America was still supporting them. It was after that
conversation that I understood the importance for the soldiers to know
that we support them. 
That their
service to their country does not go unnoticed.
We, as Americans, need to realize that we can have a difference of
opinion about the war, but we must stand united in our show of support
for the soldiers.
When a
soldier is called to duty, they do not go for a politician, they go for
us, to protect and defend their fellow Americans. They
go for the love of their country, the United States of America.
So my dream has been that when the 341st Military Police
Army Reserve Company returns to their home base of San Jose, the moment
their boots hit the ground, they know this community is behind them,
that we recognize their service, their bravery, and we thank them.
May they forever know how proud we are, and that the question never be
asked again, “Is America supporting them?”.
God Bless America
God Bless Our Troops!
Thank you.
Debbie
Katsounakis
©2004-2005
