[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 14 (Thursday, February 1, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E95]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


   HONORING THE RETIREMENT OF MR. PAUL FARMER FROM THE UNITED STATES 
                     DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. SILVESTRE REYES

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 31, 2001

  Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an individual who has 
served his country during a time of war and within the Department of 
Veterans Affairs during a time of peace. After entering the military at 
the age of 17, Mr. Paul G. Farmer of Spray, North Carolina served the 
majority of his military career in Europe before serving in Viet Nam in 
1967 and 1968. He retired after 21 years of service to be with his wife 
shortly after she was diagnosed with a terminal illness. Yet, Mr. 
Farmer did not let his retirement from the military end his service to 
his country.
  Paul Farmer began a long and successful career with the Department of 
Veterans' Affairs on December 5, 1989, but it was not until 1995 that 
Paul arrived in my district of El Paso, Texas with a new and inventive 
assignment. Paul was to implement a joint initiative between the 
Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans' Affairs that was 
designed to evaluate medical disabilities for active duty personnel 
prior to their discharge or retirement from service, a program that 
became very successful. Anyone who had the pleasure to work with Paul 
knew that he maintained an open door policy in his office to all area 
veterans. Paul initiated several community outreach programs and worked 
to achieve compensation and medical benefits for numerous veterans in 
the El Paso and Southern New Mexico area.
  Mr. Speaker, Paul Farmer has dedicated his career to the safety and 
security of his country and has further dedicated his professional life 
to ensure that United States Armed Service veterans are given the 
utmost respect and service a grateful nation should, by honor, bestow 
upon them. I ask that we recognize this individual, thank him for his 
years of dedicated service, and wish him Godspeed in his retirement.

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