[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 145 (Tuesday, October 13, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2116]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E2116]]
        TRIBUTE TO SGT. BLANCA ZOILA BURNLEY, U.S. MARINE CORPS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. HERBERT H. BATEMAN

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 13, 1998

  Mr. BATEMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an exceptional 
non-commissioned officer of the United States Marines, Sergeant Blanca 
Z. Burnley. On December 13, 1998, Sergeant Burnley completes a highly 
successful tour as the Marine Corps' Liaison Non-Commissioned Officer 
to this body for the past two-and-a-half years. It is a true pleasure 
for me to recognize a few of her many outstanding achievements.
  A native of Mexico, and later naturalized in Los Angeles, California, 
Sergeant Burnley became dedicated to the service of this country. She 
entered basic training for the Marine Corps at Parris Island, South 
Carolina on October 20, 1990 as Recruit Valadez, following her 
graduation from Alexander Hamilton High School in Los Angeles, 
California.
  Upon completion of basic training, then Private Valadez attended the 
Basic Administration Course at Camp Johnson, North Carolina, where she 
was promoted to Private First Class before reporting for duty with the 
First Marine Aircraft Wing in Okinawa, Japan on May 7, 1991. In 1st 
MAW's Wing Personnel Office, Blanca served successively as an Orders 
Clerk and was selected to participate in Ulchi Focus Lens in Osan, 
Korea. Upon returning from Korea, Blanca was meritoriously promoted to 
Lance Corporal on September 2, 1991.
  After serving a year on Okinawa, on May of 1992, Lance Corporal 
Valadez reported to the Commanding Officer, Headquarters and Service 
Battalion, Camp Smith, Hawaii and was assigned to the Personnel Office 
as the only Separations Clerk. Within 3 months of her arrival, Lance 
Corporal Valadez was selected to stand before a Meritorious Corporal 
Board along with other Lance Corporals of her battalion-she was chosen 
to be meritoriously promoted to Corporal on August 2, 1997. Two years 
later, Corporal Valadez was promoted to Sergeant.
  After 2\1/2\ years of serving with H&S Bn in Camp Smith, Hawaii, 
Sergeant Valadez was transferred to H & S Bn in Quantico, VA. She was 
attached to Headquarters company and served as the Company Clerk. 
During this tour, she handled the training and education as well as the 
administrative duties that kept the company mission-ready. Sergeant 
Valadez was also able to attend the Sergeants' Course where she 
graduated on September 21, 1995.
  Sergeant Valadez was called for duty as the Marine Corps' Liaison 
Non-Commissioned Officer here at the Capitol in April of 1996. Soon 
thereafter she was married to Thurman H. Burnley II. She became well 
known on Capitol Hill as Sergeant Burnley, and has been instrumental in 
providing this Congress and its predecessor with a working knowledge of 
the Marine Corps. Most importantly Mr. Speaker, Sergeant Burnley has 
come to epitomize those qualities that we as a nation have come to 
expect from Marines--absolutely impeccable integrity, moral character 
and professionalism.
  Sergeant Burnley's personal awards include the Navy Commendation 
Medal and the Navy Achievement Medal. Mr. Speaker, Blanca Zoila Burnley 
has served this nation with distinction in war and in peace for the 
last eight years. As she reaches the end of her military career, I call 
upon my colleagues from both sides of the aisle to wish her, her loving 
husband Thurman, and their proud son Alexander Scott every success as 
well as fair winds and following seas.

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