[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 40 (Wednesday, March 16, 2011)]
[House]
[Page H1848]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      HONORING DALE EVERETT CRANE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Arizona (Mr. Quayle) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. QUAYLE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a man who lived a 
life that epitomized the American Dream--a man who put his family and 
country first, yet never asked for anything in return. We here in 
Washington talk a lot about the American Dream. Unfortunately, we often 
talk about this dream in abstract terms. Yet, every day there are 
people all across this great country who are living this dream without 
any recognition.
  And for many of them, that's exactly how they like it. They don't 
want accolades or praise. They simply want to live a happy life and be 
surrounded by the people they love. They believe that building a strong 
family and serving their country is nothing special. They believe it's 
ordinary. Madam Speaker, that mindset and that belief is what makes 
these people extraordinary, and that is what made Dale Everett Crane 
extraordinary.
  Dale Crane came from humble beginnings in southern California. After 
he graduated from high school, Dale briefly attended college until he 
found another calling. Instead of furthering his education, Dale joined 
the marines and went on to fight for our country in Vietnam. After 
being honorably discharged from his beloved corps, he met the love of 
his life, Shawn, and married her. Dale went on to be a successful small 
businessman. He scraped and he saved; but in the end, he built up one 
of those small businesses that make our country strong.
  Although Dale built a tremendous small business, this was not his 
greatest accomplishment. In Dale's mind, his greatest accomplishment 
was his family. His marriage to Shawn and his four children were far 
and away the most important thing in his life. I don't know this 
because I read a story about Dale in a newspaper. I know this because I 
felt it firsthand. Dale Crane was my father-in-law. The love he knew 
for his family knew no bounds--and if we all embraced this love of 
family and country, we would be in a better place.
  Madam Speaker, on February 19 of this year, Dale Crane's family and 
friends mourned his death. But more importantly, we celebrated his 
life. We will never forget the sacrifices he made for his family and 
his country.

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