[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 158 (Tuesday, November 4, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2218]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   TRIBUTE TO STEVE JORGENSEN, DIRECTOR, RIVERSIDE NATIONAL CEMETERY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. KEN CALVERT

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 4, 2003

  Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to an 
individual whose dedication and contributions to the community of 
Riverside, California are exceptional. Riverside has been fortunate to 
have dynamic and dedicated community leaders who willingly and 
unselfishly give their time and talent and make their communities a 
better place to live. Steve Jorgensen is one of these individuals. 
Steve will be retiring as Director of the Riverside National Cemetery 
this year and his dedication and contributions will be missed.
  Steve is a native of Oregon where he joined the United States Army 
and served honorably for three years. In 1976, he graduated from Mount 
Hood College and later attended College of the Ozarks in Clarksville, 
Arkansas.
  Steve joined the National Cemetery System in June 1973, while still a 
student, as a cemetery caretaker at Willamette National Cemetery 
located in Portland, Oregon. In January of 1977, he was elected as a 
cemetery director trainee and remained at Willamette for the year long 
program. After completion of the program, he was named Director at 
Eagle Point, Oregon National Cemetery and remained there for a year and 
a half. He served as Director of the Fort Smith, Arkansas National 
Cemetery; Director of the San Francisco, California National Cemetery; 
Assistant Director of the Willamette National Cemetery; and Director of 
the Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas.
  Steve was appointed to Director of Riverside National Cemetery in 
October 1991 and has been responsible for all burial and maintenance 
operations at the cemetery. Riverside National Cemetery is one of our 
nation's largest cemeteries and is the most active. The 921-acre 
facility has 288 developed acres, performs 8,000 burials yearly, and 
has over 145,000 gravesites to maintain. The facility is revered for 
its high standards of maintenance and efficiency. Under Steve's 
excellent leadership the facility has achieved the highest awards 
possible within the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the Robert W. 
Carey Organizational Excellence Award. The cemetery received this 
prestigious award in 1996, 2002 and 2003.
  Steve's tireless passion for service has contributed immensely to the 
betterment of the community of Riverside California. His unwavering 
commitment to maintaining the dignity of the Riverside National 
Cemetery is a source of pride to his community and I am proud to call 
him a fellow community member, American and friend. I know that many 
community members, veterans and spouses of veterans are grateful for 
his service and salute him as he retires.

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