[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 27 (Thursday, February 13, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S2451]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         OREGON COMMUNITY HERO

 Mr. Smith. Madam President, as we celebrate Valentine's Day by 
sharing our love with those dear to our hearts, I find it fitting today 
to honor a man who has given his love, time, and dedication to all 
those he serves. Mr. Dale Hilding of my home town of Pendleton, OR, is 
an exemplary civil servant, community volunteer, and family man. Both 
literally and figuratively, he is a hero in every sense of the word.
  Dale serves as the manager of the Pendleton Social Security office. 
Assisting the residents of eastern Oregon with such tasks as Social 
Security retirement, disability and supplemental income benefits; 
Medicare enrollment; and trouble shooting problems is a gargantuan 
task. In each of these endeavors, Dale is superb.
  Besides supervising employees and managing an office, Dale is also 
the point of contact for congressional staff. Dale is at the head of 
the class of Oregon congressional liaisons. He is efficient, effective, 
and positive in helping me serve my eastern Oregon constituents. Dale 
has gone beyond the call of duty numerous times helping my staff answer 
Social Security questions and solving problems for my constituents. He 
is a true civil servant hero.
  Beyond his work as a Federal employee, Dale finds time to serve his 
community. Taking the example of his father, also a civil servant, Dale 
says: ``If you're an employee of the Federal Government, you have an 
obligation to be active in the community it serves.''
  Dale took this advice to heart by spearheading the Combined Federal 
Campaign, CFC, in eastern Oregon. CFC is the annual fundraising drive 
conducted by Federal employees in their workplace. These dollars raised 
benefit thousands of nonprofit charities.
  Dale's performance was so phenomenal, in 2001 he was awarded with the 
civilian CFC Hero Award. This national award is presented to only three 
winners annually, representing the three areas of Federal service--
civilian, military, and postal. He is a true community hero.
  Despite these activities, Dale still finds time to be an active 
family man to his wife and three children. In order to spend more time 
with his kids, he decided to become involved in their favorite 
activities. That led Dale to serve as an assistant scout master with 
the Boy Scouts and an assistant troop leader with the Girl Scouts. Dale 
also volunteers with the Umatilla County United Way. He is a true 
family hero.
  Exemplary civil servant. Community volunteer. Family man. These are 
just a few of the many characteristics that make Dale Hilding an 
exceptional citizen of Oregon. It is with great respect that I, too, 
call Dale ``hero.''

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