[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 48 (Thursday, March 25, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E507]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              REMARKS ON THE PASSING OF COLONEL JOHN REES

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. K. MICHAEL CONAWAY

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 25, 2010

  Mr. CONAWAY. Madam Speaker, I rise tonight to pay tribute to a 
visionary man and true American hero, Colonel John Rees.
  John Cliff Rees was born in 1922 on his family farm in Mason County, 
Kentucky. After graduating from high school and then Bowling Green 
Business University, he met and married the love of his life, Bess 
Anderson. Not long after that, John joined the Army Air Corps and was 
commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in 1944.
  In time, John would serve in four wars: World War II, Korea, Vietnam, 
and the Cold War, eventually earning the rank of Colonel. While there 
are many men who have served with as much pride, honor, and distinction 
as Colonel Rees has, I remember him today specifically for the last 
stop on his tour of duty. As Colonel, he was appointed the Wing 
Commander at Goodfellow Air Force Base in San Angelo, Texas. In that 
position, both he and his wife came to be known and loved by the people 
of San Angelo. A kind man with a keen intellect, Colonel Rees worked 
relentlessly to forge a deeper bond between the Base and the City.
  In one of his lasting legacies to the people of San Angelo, he was 
instrumental in bringing a linguistic training center to the base, 
breathing new life into its mission and ensuring that the base would 
remain a strategic asset in the community for years to come.
  Colonel Rees passed away on October 12, 2009. Some weeks ago, Colonel 
Rees' wife Bess also passed away on March 3, 2010. They will be laid to 
rest together the Friday after Easter, April 9, 2010, in Arlington 
National Cemetery. Colonel Rees was a dedicated and faithful servant of 
the American people and has rightly earned his place in Arlington.
  Death is always a heavy burden to bear for those of us who remain 
behind, but I know that Colonel Rees is with God in all his glory and 
has been reunited with the love of his life in heaven. On behalf of the 
people of San Angelo, the people of Texas, and all Americans, I offer 
his family my deepest condolences. Your father fought gallantly to 
protect the nation he loved. He was our commander, our friend, our 
mentor, and our inspiration.
  As Colonel John Rees is laid to rest next month, I know that the 
lives of his family and friends will dim just a bit. However, they need 
only look up to the sky to see that the stars over Texas shine brighter 
because he looks down on us all.

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