[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 61 (Wednesday, May 17, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E742]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     GEORGE RUIZ OF CORPUS CHRISTI

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. SOLOMON P. ORTIZ

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 16, 2000

  Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, I pay tribute to an extraordinary patriot and 
citizen of South Texas, George Ruiz of Corpus Christi, whose support 
and promotion of the U.S. Armed Forces is unconventional, and which is 
a wonderful recruiting tool unto itself.
  Since 1992, after the Persian Gulf War, George Ruiz began gathering 
up area young people to attend an exhibition he conceived, ``Dare to 
Dream.'' This exhibition includes flyovers, several Air Force planes, 
and booths from local law enforcement, NASA and the U.S. Border Patrol. 
George, a bus driver for the Calallen school district in the Corpus 
Christi area, does this each year out of the sheer passion he has for 
the military.
  George knows, as I do, that if young people are introduced to an 
organization which demands discipline, they are far more likely to 
succeed in life . . . to stay in school, to stay clear of gangs, and to 
remain drug-free. He also knows talking alone will not get it done. The 
driving force behind George's philosophy is that our only limit is our 
imagination.
  The most important thing he does is inspire young people to dream. He 
uses the mystery and majesty of aircraft to invoke their dreams. He 
uses the time he has with young people on his bus to talk about the 
importance of staying in school, and the possibility of the military as 
a career.
  It is not quite enough for George to only inspire young people 
through an air show exhibition; this guy lives it. He plasters 
recruiting posters inside his bus, he volunteers weekly at Driscoll 
Children's Hospital, arranges visits by military personnel to area 
schools, and takes youngsters to area bases to see first-hand the 
military facilities.
  Just last year, the United States Air Force showed its formal 
appreciation to George in the form of an award, the Air Forces 
Recruiting Service's most prestigious and highest form of recognition, 
the American Spirit Award.
  While the military has always been a part of his life, surprisingly 
enough, George has never served in uniform. His life-long interest in 
the military began when he was six while his father was stationed at 
Naval Air Station Kingsville. George's message to young people is 
clear: dream what you will, then work hard to see it happen, as part of 
the Armed Services of the United States if possible.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in commending the best 
non-military recruiter in South Texas, a rare and decent patriot, 
George Ruiz.

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