[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 116 (Friday, September 13, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1578]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING ARLENE HEWITT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JAMES P. MORAN

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 13, 2002

  Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 
diligent, innovative and civic-minded work of Mrs. Arlene Hewitt. After 
35 years of dedicated service to INOVA Alexandria Hospital, Mrs. Hewitt 
has decided to retire, but her active role as a community leader in the 
Northern Virginia region will undoubtably continue.
  Raised in Brookline, Massachusetts, Arlene relocated to Alexandria, 
Virginia with her family in 1967, to join the former Alexandria 
Hospital in an effort to establish an innovative new program. Keenly 
aware of the poor social services available to the disadvantaged 
members of the community, Arlene began her tireless effort to establish 
and then direct the hospital's first social work department. Through 
this department, Arlene made numerous accomplishments, including 
initiating the Senior Health Access outreach program, establishing a 
hospital employee assistance program, collaborating with the Alexandria 
Health Department to create an early childhood immunization program, 
and playing an instrumental role in coordinating initiatives to reduce 
unintended pregnancies, stamp out teenage smoking and promote bike 
helmet safety. These socially conscious programs have given an enormous 
boost to the health services of Alexandria and the Northern Virginia 
region. Without Arlene's untiring dedication, these highly effective 
services that continually provide enormous benefits to the region would 
not exist.
  Outside of her job, Arlene has also served in a variety of positions 
with many outstanding organizations. She is actively involved in her 
synagogue, serving on the Board of Directors at Alexandria's Beth El 
Hebrew Congregation. Beginning with an appointment to the Executive 
Committee and later serving as Committee Chair, Arlene has been 
associated with the Alexandria United Way for over 30 years. Her 
unmatched devotion led to her being awarded a life membership to the 
Alexandria United Way and the prestigious 2002 Alexandria United Way 
Outstanding Services Award. While most people would end their 
philanthropic activities here, Arlene has repeatedly gone above and 
beyond the call to civic duty. She has also served on the Alexandria 
Committee on Aging, been a charter member of the Alexandria Health 
Advisory Commission, chaired the Alexandria Chapter of AARP's health 
council and has been specially recognized by the Northern Virginia 
Rotary District Governor for outstanding service to the [chyph]elderly.
  Mr. Speaker, words alone cannot adequately describe the communities' 
gratitude to Arlene Hewitt. She has touched many lives both directly 
and indirectly and given hope and guidance to those who need it most. 
It is an understatement to say that INOVA Hospital will greatly miss 
her presence, but fortunately for Northern Virginia and Virginia's 8th 
District, her living legacy will continue going strong.

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