[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 152 (Wednesday, September 24, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9404-S9405]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO STEWART PORTELA

 Mr. CRAPO. Madam President, it is an honor for me to recognize 
a man who has made it his life's work to recognize the contributions of 
Idaho veterans and educate the next generation of Idahoans about the 
sacrifices made by those who have fought for our great Nation. Stewart 
Portela, a teacher at Firth High School, is the author of three books 
on Idaho veterans. He has arranged no fewer than eight student tours 
back here to Washington, DC,

[[Page S9405]]

and to area Civil War battlefields himself, in order to make the trip 
more affordable for his students. He accompanies his students on these 
educational tours. He has held graduation ceremonies in conjunction 
with the Firth High School graduation ceremonies to graduate local 
veterans who enlisted in the military prior to graduating from high 
school. Named ``Operation Veteran,'' this idea has spread to at least 
10 neighboring high schools.
  Stewart is responsible for the display of photos of all the local 
veterans in the high school hallways, complete with unit designation, 
years, branch, and wars. There are over 200 veterans whose photos are 
displayed at Firth High School. He conducts the Veterans Day program at 
the high school every year. In 2007, 87 veterans and 600 people from 
the local community attended the ceremony.
  As a teacher, Stewart brings history to life. With close to 40 
students in his military history class every year, Stewart is proud to 
be able to share experiences firsthand with them, like earlier this 
year when an 87-year-old veteran who served aboard the USS Pennsylvania 
at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, told his story to Stewart's class. 
In fact, Stewart's extraordinary efforts were recently rewarded when he 
was honored as one of three Idaho recipients of the Veterans of Foreign 
Wars Idaho Teacher of the Year for 2007-2008.
  Stewart has been the featured speaker at more than 40 veterans, 
civic, or church groups, talking about veterans and their influence on 
our Nation. He has devoted many years, much energy, and great passion 
to remind us, young and old, that freedom is not free and that those 
who have made tremendous sacrifices for our freedom are a heartfelt 
thank-you away.
  I am glad to recognize and thank Stewart for his ongoing 
contributions to inspire patriotism, recognize veterans, and promote 
the civic education of our children.

                          ____________________