[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 51 (Monday, March 31, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S4556]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                RETIREMENT OF ADJUTANT GENERAL BOENISCH

 Mr. THOMAS. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to a 
man from my home state of Wyoming who has dedicated his life to public 
service. The Wyoming National Guard has been extremely fortunate to 
have MG Edmond W. Boenisch, Jr., to head its ranks for the last 8 
years. As the adjutant general for the State of Wyoming, Ed has been 
responsible for managing Wyoming's Air National Guard and Army National 
Guard through over 500 deployments around the world and insuring that 
our citizen soldiers are highly motivated and properly prepared to meet 
any challenge. No leader can expect to maintain consistently high 
performance under stress and challenging conditions if the people he 
leads do not have confidence in him. I believe that the Wyoming Guard's 
success is a reflection of General Boenisch's personal commitment and 
dedication to the personnel under his command.
  Through 20 years of service, General Boenisch has brought leadership 
to Wyoming's National Guard. Raised in a home of solid faith and the 
son of a drill instructor, Ed learned early to value self-discipline 
and moral conviction. Through his life and over 30 years of marriage, 
Ed and his wife Linda have shared their strong faith with their family. 
The challenges of raising two daughters, Laura and Lisa, and an ever 
demanding career have not shaken Ed and Linda's compass for God, 
family, and country. As Eucharistic Ministers, they both share their 
spirituality and are vital members of their church and community.
  I would be doing a great disservice if I did not mention Ed's strong 
ties to the Wyoming education community. Before becoming adjutant 
general, Ed spent 20 years working in a variety of positions in Laramie 
County Community College. With a master's degree in student personnel 
and guidance and a PhD in college student personnel administration, Ed 
has written several books on stress management. After such a long and 
distinguished career, I can attest that General Boenisch knows a thing 
or two about managing stress.
  Although we will miss General Boenisch, I am proud that he will 
continue his public service as deputy director for the Wyoming 
Community College Commission. As a warrior and a scholar, I know that 
Gen. Edmond W. Boenisch, Jr. will continue after this post to be a 
vital asset to our State. I would like to thank Ed on behalf of the 
people of Wyoming for his years of service and wish him success on the 
next stage of his career.

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