[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 35 (Thursday, March 24, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: March 24, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
           CLOSING OF NORTON AIR FORCE BASE IN SAN BERNARDINO

                                 ______


                       HON. GEORGE E. BROWN, JR.

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 24, 1994

  Mr. BROWN of California. Mr. Speaker, on March 31, one of our 
Nation's premier military bases, Norton Air Force Base in San 
Bernardino, CA, will close.
  I am extremely proud to have represented Norton Air Force Base and 
its employees in the U.S. House of Representatives. Norton has been 
more than just a workplace in my community. It's been a community, a 
place where people not only work, but also live, shop, recreate, and 
get medical care. Perhaps even more, as I use to listen to the steady 
sound of C-141 transport planes coming in over my district office in 
Colton, I was always reminded of how Norton linked up our community 
with the events and actions of our Nation and the world as a whole. In 
that sense, Norton Air Force Base made many people in our region feel a 
part of a larger effort and a world beyond our own neighborhoods. 
That's just one reason I'll miss Norton and the sound of those C-141's.
  But the biggest reason is that I know that at the landing point of 
those jet sounds have been several thousand of our region's people, 
working hard and making a living serving their country. I've come to 
know many of them over the years. While I have undoubtedly not met some 
of them yet, through our common bond at Norton, I feel a familiarity 
with and respect for all of the base's past and present employees.
  As just one example of some of the good people I've had the 
opportunity to come to know at Norton, I would like to take a moment to 
express my appreciation for one of Norton's civilian employees who I 
have known for many years and who will be one of the many people I will 
dearly miss at Norton--and that is Lorna Kenney.
  I have come to know Lorna through the many hats she wears in our 
community, including her role with the sister cities program, with the 
Federal Managers Association, and with Norton's civilian personnel 
office.
  I know that the role of a personnel officer is difficult as you try 
to be fair and just to individuals at the same time that you must 
always safeguard and promote the larger organizational mission. Lorna 
has always struck me as combining the best in Air Force professionalism 
with a strong commitment to going the extra mile to help ensure 
fairness and justice for individuals. I'll miss Lorna's presence at 
Norton, but I'm sure I'm not alone in being confident that she'll go on 
to apply her talents and strong personal character to other endeavors 
in our community.
  I know that Lorna is not alone among Norton civilian employees who 
have done their best, performed good solid work at Norton, and given 
their all to this base, its mission, and our Nation.
  On behalf of the people of the Inland Empire of California, I want to 
thank all of Norton's departing civilian and military personnel for all 
that you have done to make Norton mean something special to our 
community and something that played an important role in our Nation and 
in our world. I wish you best in the next chapter of your lives, and I 
know that you will always be thought of warmly in this community for 
your work with this great base.

                          ____________________