[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 89 (Monday, June 17, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1095]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       ``TO CARE FOR HIM WHO SHALL HAVE BORNE THE BATTLE . . .''

                                 ______


                            HON. BOB FILNER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 17, 1996

  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, today is a time to convey the respect and 
gratitude of the San Diego veterans community and the employees of the 
Department of Veterans' Affairs for the efforts and accomplishments of 
Patrick Nappi, Director of the Department of Veterans' Affairs Regional 
Office in San Diego.
  During the past 5 years, veterans in San Diego, Riverside, and 
Imperial Counties have experienced in Mr. Nappi a friend and advocate, 
who was working for them at the San Diego Regional Office. Mr. Nappi 
established close working relationships with the State and county and 
with local and national veterans service organizations. These 
relationships have been based on a genuine mutual respect and a concern 
for the needs of veterans and their dependents.
  Mr. Nappi also worked closely with local military bases to establish 
a program of support and training for service personnel preparing for 
discharge or release from active duty. These transition assistance 
programs have provided timely information on VA benefits and programs 
to thousands of veterans.
  Working under the guidance of Mr. Nappi, the San Diego Department of 
Veterans' Affairs Regional Office has endeavored to put into action the 
philosophy of former Administrator of Veterans' Affairs, Omar Bradley, 
when he said: ``We are dealing with veterans, not procedures; with 
their problems, not ours.'' This philosophy has led to new and more 
efficient lines of communication between the Department of Veterans' 
Affairs and our veterans and their advocates.
  Mr. Nappi's commitment to community relations is a particular 
strength. Among his most successful cooperative efforts was the work 
with the Navy League and the Serviceman's YMCA. In partnership with the 
United Veterans Council of San Diego and the Vietnam Veterans of San 
Diego, the VA was also involved with Project Stand Down, which has met 
the needs of hundreds of homeless veterans. Mr. Nappi was actively 
involved in job placement services with the California Employment 
Development Department, opening an outbased EDD office in the San Diego 
VA Regional Office to place veterans in jobs and to assist others in 
filing for benefits.
  Mr. Nappi has led by example, taking a personal interest in veterans. 
He has demonstrated the sincerity of his concern by becoming involved 
in individual cases brought to his attention. His efforts deserve our 
respect, not because every person got the decision they wanted, but 
because when he promised a timely resolution of the claim, he remained 
personally involved until a final decision was made and communicated to 
the veteran.
  Recognizing his talents and commitments, the Veterans Benefits 
Administration has selected Mr. Nappi to become the Area Director over 
13 VA regional offices in the North Central United States. Mr. Nappi 
leaves us a legacy of innovative and valuable initiatives and 
accomplishments that have increased the level and quality of service 
provided to southern California's veterans.
  He strives to keep our promise to our veterans, so eloquently stated 
by President Abraham Lincoln in 1865: ``To care for him who shall have 
borne the battle, and his widows, and his orphans.'' We will miss him 
very much, but we congratulate him and wish him well in his new 
position.

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