[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 146 (Monday, October 25, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2173]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO B.T. COLLINS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ROBERT T. MATSUI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, October 25, 1999

  Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise in tribute to B.T. Collins. The date 
of November 6, 1999 will see the dedication of the B.T. Collins Army 
Reserve Training Center, currently under construction at the old 
Sacramento Army Depot. Because of this great honor, I ask all of my 
colleagues to join me in acknowledgment of this event.
  This twenty million-dollar facility will provide training for 1,200-
1,400 soldiers each month. These men and women will receive training in 
field medical surgical hospital techniques, field mess preparations, 
high tech communications, and other basic or advanced military 
occupational specialty training.
  The lobby of this new training center will house the B.T. Collins 
Museum. This will provide a permanent home for many of the historical 
photographs, letters, uniforms, and other paraphernalia that B.T. 
Collins had collected throughout his Army and political careers. His 
sisters and friends will donate much of the collection. They will also 
work closely with the military and the builders to insure that the 
museum will reflect B.T. Collins' love of country, family and community 
service.
  On this extraordinary day, perhaps the most notable event will be the 
dedication of a bust of B.T. Collins to be placed at the entrance of 
this important facility. The artist, Garr Ugalde has been commissioned 
to create the bust, and he has presented a preliminary wax model of his 
work that amazingly captures B.T. Collins in his green beret. This bust 
will be donated by his family and friends.
  B.T. Collins' friends and family made a promise that they would not 
allow his memory, patriotism, ideals, and contribution to his country 
to be forgotten. This memorial is one way to make good on that promise. 
It is their sincere hope that this museum will inspire soldiers to 
emulate the ideals that B.T. Collins espoused.
  Mr. Speaker, as the friends and family of B.T. Collins gather to 
celebrate this landmark event, I am honored to pay tribute to one of 
Sacramento's most outstanding citizens. B.T. Collins' contributions to 
his community, state, and country are commendable. I am sincerely 
pleased that this museum and monument to this great man will preserve 
his memory for generations. I ask all of my colleagues to join with me 
in wishing B.T. Collins and his family continued success in all their 
endeavors.

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