[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 33 (Thursday, February 28, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S1382]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORING DAVID WILLIAM SUMMERFIELD

 Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, today I honor the memory of David 
William Summerfield, a husband, father, soldier, pilot, and a beloved 
member of the Cumberland community. Dave died on February 21, piloting 
a small plane from Charleston, WV, to Cumberland. Also lost was his 
passenger, Rob Kessel of Bel Air, MD.
  Dave Summerfield's death has been a blow to the entire community and 
to all who knew him. A graduate of Allegany High School, Dave dedicated 
himself to the service of our Nation by joining the U.S. Air Force in 
1951. During his distinguished military career, he was awarded the 
Bronze Star Service Medal, Air Force Meritorious Service Medal, Air 
Force Commendation Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with V for 
Valor, Vietnam Service Medal with four campaign stars, and RVN Honor 
Medal First Class with Gold Palm.
  In 1972, he returned to his childhood home in Rawlings after retiring 
from the Air Force. There he and his wife, Jessie Marie, raised a 
family of five children and started an aviation business. His greatest 
joy in life was his family; his second greatest joy was flying.
  Dave was a certified Airline Transport Pilot, ATP, the highest grade 
of pilot certification that the Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, 
can bestow. He and Jessie Marie founded Summerfield Aviation, an FAA-
approved pilot school, Air Charter and Aerial Photography Service 
located at the Cumberland Regional Airport. During his 35 years as a 
pilot, he logged thousands of hours and provided flight instruction to 
hundreds of students. He was beloved by his students, many of whom 
joined the search for his plane when they learned it was missing.
  He also understood the need to give back to the community. He served 
as a deacon and was on the board of directors of the Grace Bible 
Fellowship in Short Gap, WV. He also was a member of the Calvary 
Baptist Church in Cresaptown. During the last year of his life, he led 
a Bible study with prisoners at the Federal Correctional Institution in 
Cumberland.
  On a personal note, Dave's youngest son, Robin, is a valuable member 
of my staff, as my field representative for the western part of 
Maryland.
  Mr. President, on behalf of the citizens of Maryland and members of 
the U.S. Senate, I wish to extend our sincerest condolences to the 
family of Dave Summerfield. He was a great American who was an 
inspiration to all who knew him.

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