[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 18 (Tuesday, February 2, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E108-E109]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 IN HONOR OF THE DALE CITY CIVIC ASSOCIATION CITIZEN OF THE YEAR AWARDS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. THOMAS M. DAVIS

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 2, 1999

  Mr. DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a group 
of outstanding citizens from Dale City in Prince William County of the 
Eleventh Congressional District of Virginia. These remarkable 
individuals have been selected by the Dale City Civic Association in 
recognition of their many achievements and their dedication to serving 
their community. These award-winners are people who have gone above and 
beyond the call of duty on a daily basis. They are members of the Dale 
City community who gave of their time in order to serve others and 
encourage others to be leaders. These citizens will be recognized on 
January 31, 1999, by the Dale City Civic Association, one of the 
largest, most active and accomplished Citizens Associations in the 
Commonwealth of Virginia. I would like to offer my congratulations to 
these award recipients.
  The Dale City Civic Association was created over thirty years ago. 
Since that time, it has grown into a strong organization that has 
encouraged its members to volunteer their time and efforts to make 
their neighborhood a better place to live and work. The Association has 
an outstanding record of service to the community. Their work includes 
awarding a number of scholarships to college-bound students from Dale 
City, as well as monitoring development in the region and serving as a 
sounding board for citizens and businesses.
  Citizen of the Year: David H. Dell, Sr. Mr. Dell, a twenty-two year 
resident of Dale City, has made a career of giving back to the 
community. In addition to being a Life Member of the Dale City Civic 
Association, Mr. Dell is also a long-time member of the Dale City 
Volunteer Fire Department and volunteer driver for hospital personnel, 
doctors, nurses and staff to get them to and from work during inclement 
weather. Not only does Mr. David Dell, Sr. see to the safety needs of 
Dale City, he is also dedicated to fostering the City's cultural well-
being as Staging Director for the Dale City 4th of July Parade for the 
past three years. Mr. Dell has demonstrated exceptional community 
spirit over the past twenty-two years and is certainly deserving of the 
honor bestowed upon him by the Dale City Civic Association.
  Young Citizen of the Year: Rachel J. Bryant. Miss Bryant is an 
extraordinary young citizen who has already become a strong role model 
to her peers. Rachel is currently a senior at Gar-Field High School. At 
Gar-Field, Rachel is a member and facilitator in the Gifted Education 
Enrichment Seminar Program for the past four years. Additionally, Miss 
Bryant is Vice President of her class, a member of the National Honor 
Society and has attended Virginia's Governor's School for Mathematics, 
Science and Technology where she was awarded the Macy's Scholar Award 
for Minorities in Medicine. Rachel is Gar-Field High School's shining 
star and demonstrates that our next generation is caring, selfless and 
dedicated.
  Community Service Award: Dorothy Holley. Mrs. Holley is a volunteer 
who works with the elderly, local service organizations, and the less-
fortunate. She spends much of her volunteer time arranging for food 
donations to be made to the PW Homeless Shelter, Senior Center and the 
PERTC Thermal Shelter. Throughout the community she is described as 
always willing and able to lend a hand in her community.
  The Kathy Feeney Nurse of the Year: Eileen J. Yetter, RN. Mrs. Yetter 
has served the Dale City community at Potomac Hospital for the past 
eight years and is now one of the senior staff members in the Emergency 
Department. She is clearly dedicated to administering excellent quality 
care to her patients. In particular, Mrs. Yetter has helped design the 
state of the art Emergency Care Center at Potomac Hospital. Some of her 
design innovations have been duplicated in other emergency rooms across 
the nation. She also has worked to make the senior communities in Dale 
City

[[Page E109]]

more aware of their specific health risks, and how to react if they 
recognize them. The patients and community at Potomac Hospital have 
truly benefited from her work.
  Police Officers of the Year: Officer Ruben D. Castilla and James C. 
Virgil. Officers Castilla and Virgil have been instrumental in making 
Dale City's streets more inviting and safe for community residents. 
Specifically, Officers Castilla and Virgil were commended by their 
department for the thorough investigation of the vandalism cases which 
led to the closure of twenty-one cases and the clearance of an 
unreported attempted armed robbery. These two officers are also 
credited with removing two area juveniles who had been harassing 
residents. Their efforts have provided protection to the residents of 
Dale City, so they can sleep peacefully at night.
  Deputy Sheriff of the Year: Sergeant William O'Connell, Jr. Sergeant 
O'Connell is an individual who cares deeply about the people he serves. 
As a member of the Sheriff's Department and resident of Dale City for 
eleven years, Sergeant O'Connell is credited with developing an 
innovative Mentoring Program for middle school students in Prince 
William County and the cities of Manassas and Manassas Park, bringing 
together a variety of criminal justice agencies. Sergeant O'Connell 
also serves as the Sheriff's office representative to the Northern 
Virginia chapter of the Virginia D.A.R.E. Association. Sergeant 
O'Connell has proven his dedication to making Prince William County 
safer for all residents.
  Firefighter of the Year: Todd Zavash. As a Battalion Captain with the 
Dale City Volunteer Fire Department he has been instrumental in the 
personal and professional growth of over eighty firefighters whom he 
has supervised in two Battalions. His leadership has allowed the 
residents of Dale City to know that firefighting personnel are ready to 
respond to all calls for assistance. Captain Zavash is recognized by 
his peers as an individual who is always willing to lend a helping hand 
or a sympathetic ear.
  Emergency Medical Technician of the Year: John Dooley. Mr. Dooley has 
served as a volunteer EMT with the Dale City Volunteer Fire Department 
for the past eight years, and is currently the lead paramedic on 
Battalion 1. Mr. Dooley being awarded this honor is the culmination of 
years of dedicated service to the people of Dale City. Mr. Dooley is 
highly respected for his professionalism and dedication as a senior 
staff member by his peers and the community. He is truly a remarkable 
person who has provided excellent medical care to those who call in 
need.
  Elementary School Teacher of the Year: Miss Bella Raphael. Miss 
Raphael is a Second Grade teacher at Kerrydale Elementary School. In 
addition to her regular teaching duties, Miss Raphael volunteers in 
support of a number of school activities. She is well-known for her 
work with the Special Needs Committee which is a community outreach 
program to assist families during special holidays and emergency 
situations. As part of her work with this group she spends the 
Thanksgiving and Christmas Holidays preparing and delivering baskets of 
toys and food for families in need. Miss Raphael is also active in the 
Prince William Alliance of Black School Educators, which is an 
organization that promotes academic achievements for minority students 
in Prince William County Schools through a scholarship fund. Through 
her many varied activities Miss Raphael has certainly made a positive 
mark in Dale City's educational system.
  Middle School Teacher of the Year: Suzanne Johnson. Mrs. Johnson is a 
seventh grade teacher of language arts at Stuart M. Beville Middle 
School. At Beville, she is involved in many extra-curricular 
activities, and was a charter faculty member of the school in 1990. 
Mrs. Johnson is known among the students and faculty alike as ``An 
energetic and resourceful teacher'', always willing to offer that extra 
help to a student in need. She brings tremendous caring and dedication 
to her work, and inspires her students to excel.
  High School Teacher of the Year: Jeannine Turner. Mrs. Turner has 
been an AP English teacher at C.D. Hylton Senior High School for the 
past thirty-three years. She has encouraged her students to excel in 
their studies using innovative teaching technics and dedicating as much 
of her own time as necessary. Her work in this area has enabled the 
students at Hylton to achieve higher academic levels then ever before. 
Additionally, she volunteers her time to the alternative education 
program and works with at-risk students through the night school and 
summer school programs. Mrs. Turner is an individual who is able to 
unlock each student's desire and motivation to learn and gives 
completely of herself.
  Mr. Speaker, I know my colleagues will join me in congratulating 
these outstanding citizens for their tireless efforts to make Dale 
City, Virginia a better place to live. Through the untiring and 
selfless efforts to citizens like these, many others across the country 
are inspired to do likewise. Not only Dale City, but America is 
enriched by their accomplishments and dedication.

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