[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 14 (Wednesday, January 24, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E186]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING MS. SANDRA J. ELLIS FOR HER SERVICE AND DEDICATION ON THE 
                       OCCASION OF HER RETIREMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. J. RANDY FORBES

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 24, 2007

  Mr. FORBES. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Ms. Sandra 
J. Ellis for her loyal service to the United States of America.
  Sandy's commitment to the armed services of our country and the Fort 
Lee community is to be highly commended.
  Sandra J. Ellis was born in Petersburg, Virginia on June 16, 1948, 
which is Flag Day. The daughter of an Air Force officer, Sandy grew up 
in a military family that lived in Illinois, South Dakota, and years 
later returned to Virginia.
  While Sandy's first roles at Fort Lee were as a stage performer with 
Special Services and as an entertainer at the hospital ward there, it 
was after high school that Sandy entered Petersburg General Hospital 
School of Nursing/Richard Bland College. In 1967 she decided to take a 
semester off and took a part-time position at Fort Lee. In a short 
while, she was offered a permanent position which she accepted. At a 
time when many young men and women were joining the Army during the 
buildup in Vietnam, Sandy chose to serve her country at Fort Lee; and 
so she did for 40 years.
  Sandy began her dedicated service to the Army as a Military Personnel 
Clerk. During her career, she consistently earned more responsibility 
and took on positions as a Port Call Clerk, Secretary, Congressional 
Inquiry Specialist, Administrative Specialist, and Protocol Officer. 
Most recently, she has served as the Public Affairs Officer, where she 
has been the officer responsible for media and community relations at 
Fort Lee, an Army community of more than 12,000 and home of the 
Quartermaster Center and School. As the chief liaison to the 
surrounding community, Sandy played a central role in steering the 
installation and the community through the 2005 Base Realignment and 
Closure process.
  Sandy Ellis has shown a demonstrated commitment to the Army, the 
Commonwealth of Virginia, and the nation that is rarely equaled. She 
has served during eight different Presidential administrations, and her 
loyalty to the servicemen and women at Fort Lee deserves particular 
attention and admiration. Today, we salute her for her unwavering 
dedication to her profession and the American people. Furthermore, we 
salute her husband John Ellis, and her son, Jay, without whom Sandy's 
work would not have been possible nor as meaningful as it has been.
  Madam Speaker, please join me in honoring Sandy Ellis on her 
retirement from Federal service in the United States Army.

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