[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 150 (Friday, November 2, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1996]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO CAPTAIN TIM WILLIFORD

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                         HON. KAREN L. THURMAN

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, November 1, 2001

  Mrs. THURMAN. Mr. Speaker, I am here to pay tribute to the work of 
Captain Tim Williford who serves in the Florida division of the 
Salvation Army. In the wake of the September 11th attacks, he was 
called upon to assist his country. From September 20th until October 
2nd, Captain Williford served his nation by overseeing food 
distribution at a portion of the Pentagon crash site called Camp Unity. 
He also assisted the rescue workers at the site by procuring any 
supplies that they might need.
  For the past ten years, Captain Williford has helped those affected 
by disaster by serving as a member of the Salvation Army's Disaster 
Emergency Response Team (DERT). As a member of this team, he is called 
upon to assist anyone affected by crises. He has served in the 
aftermath of disasters such as the ValuJet crash in Southern Florida, 
as well as floods, fires, tornados, and hurricanes.
  In order to fully capture Captain Williford's amazing contribution to 
the Pentagon relief effort, I would like to submit an article written 
by reporter Joy Davis-Platt of the Hernando Times, published on October 
15, 2001.

               Salvation Army Hails Captain's Homecoming

                          (By Joy Davis-Platt)

       Brooksville.--Complete with an all-American picnic in the 
     park, Hernando County's Salvation Army welcomed home one of 
     its own on Sunday.
       Capt. Tim Williford, head of the Salvation Army's Hernando 
     County corps, recently spent two weeks in Washington, D.C., 
     helping with terrorism relief efforts.
       Besides returning to his wife, Denise, and daughters, 
     Lindsey, 7, and Caitlyn, 2, on Oct. 2, Williford came back to 
     the congregation at the Salvation Army's church where he 
     preaches. ``The support I've gotten has been really great,'' 
     said Williford, who is expected to receive a proclamation 
     from Hernando County commissioners and a congressional 
     recognition from U.S. Representative Karen Thurman. ``The 
     support and thanks were more than I could have ever 
     imagined,''
       Standing on the park's white band shell, Williford 
     recounted the time he spent in the nation's capital helping 
     to keep six mobile canteen trucks stocked and ready to feed 
     6,000 relief workers three meals a day.
       After several days of helping feed relief workers, 
     Williford's assignment changed to procurement.
       Much like the Grape Nehi-drinking Cpl. Walter ``Radar'' 
     O'Reilly in the television series M.A.S.H., Williford said he 
     was charged with finding all manner of necessary items for 
     law enforcement and military personnel. During his tour, he 
     scrounged everything from tool belts to sunglasses to 
     industrial fans.
       ``People started calling me Radar,'' he said. ``Anything 
     they told me to get, I'd find a way to go out and get it.''
       Unlike other disasters during which he has joined relief 
     efforts such as the storm of March 1993 and the ValuJet crash 
     in South Florida, Williford said this assignment left him and 
     his family feeling apprehensive.
       When his daughters ask if he is going to fight in a war, 
     Williford, 38, said he tells them he is too old to fight in 
     battle, but not too old to do his part. Their part, he tells 
     them, is to support him and wait for him to come home.
       ``This one is much more emotional,'' said Williford's wife, 
     Denise, who is also a captain with the Salvation Army. ``It's 
     not like any other natural disaster.''
       Williford expects to be called to help with recovery 
     efforts in New York sometime after Easter. When he goes, his 
     wife said, she will take care of things at home.
       ``We're preparing for that,'' she said. ``That's all we can 
     do.''
       Salvation Army volunteer Les Varwig was up at 4 a.m. on 
     Sunday making sure the turkey was ready for the afternoon 
     picnic. During his two years in Brooksville, Williford has 
     gained the love and admiration of his congregation, Varwig 
     said.
       ``We are all awfully proud of the captain,'' he said. 
     ``He's a real go-getter.''
       For three years, Salvation Army volunteer Harriet Varwig 
     has helped out with local emergencies like sinkholes and 
     fires and said she understands why Williford feels compelled 
     to help.
       ``It's such a blessing to be able to help people,'' she 
     said. ``In many ways, we get more out of it than the people 
     we serve.''
       Williford said the image that will stay with him is of the 
     Washington Monument lit against the nighttime sky. Nearby, 
     the Pentagon building was lit with bright lights while 
     investigators continued their efforts into the night.
       ``Driving past, there was a moment when the monument looked 
     as if it was rising out of that gaping hole in the side of 
     the Pentagon,'' he said. ``It was the ultimate symbol of 
     power next to the ultimate symbol of freedom. That's when you 
     see what the cost of freedom really is.''
       Mr. Speaker, please join me in honoring this man, who 
     stepped in to help others in need. Captain Tim Williford 
     truly represents the very best of our great, loving, kind, 
     and giving nation.

     

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