[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 161 (Monday, November 2, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2686]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       RECOGNIZING SANDRA BECKLEY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. VERN BUCHANAN

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, November 2, 2009

  Mr. BUCHANAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize a dedicated 
public servant, Sarasota National Cemetery Director Sandra Beckley, who 
will retire from 37 years of public service at the end of this year.
  Ms. Beckley began her career with the U.S. Veterans' Administration 
in 1972 and has served as the Director of national cemeteries in 
Sarasota, Florida; Atlanta, Georgia; Pensacola, Florida; Mobile, 
Alabama; and Florence, South Carolina.
  The veterans of Florida's Sun Coast, and their families, were 
fortunate that the VA appointed Sandra as Director of Sarasota National 
Cemetery on October 14, 2007. Since then, she has done an outstanding 
job overseeing the timely construction, dignified burial, and 
maintenance operations of this first-class facility.
  She has worked extremely well with my office, the local veterans' 
community, and other stakeholders to ensure that veterans in the 
Sarasota-Bradenton area are memorialized with the honor and respect 
that they deserve, close to home.
  Madam Speaker, I have very much enjoyed having had the opportunity to 
work with Sandra and will miss her strong, candid, and caring 
leadership. While we will miss her in Sarasota-Bradenton, we wish her 
all of the very best in her retirement, which she has richly earned.

                          ____________________