[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 41 (Thursday, March 17, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Page S1822]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO SARA ELTON

 Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Madam President, today I 
recognize Sara Elton, director of the Black Hills National Cemetery at 
Sturgis, SD. Sara has served as director of the Black Hills facility 
for 3 years and has recently been named the chief of operations for 
Memorial Service Network III in Denver, CO, for the National Cemetery 
Administration.
  Ms. Elton's Federal service career spans 12 years, and I have been 
most impressed with her work and leadership at the Black Hills National 
Cemetery. She has provided oversight for numerous changes at the 
facility, and she and her staff have provided great service to veterans 
and their families as well as South Dakota veterans organizations. She 
has initiated many opportunities to recognize veterans, including the 
traditional Memorial Day and Four Chaplains Services. She also oversaw 
the Unaccompanied Veterans Memorial Service, in which veterans with no 
surviving family members are honored in a special service.
  Sara's greatest efforts have been overseeing the daily tasks of 
maintaining the grounds and gravesites of the thousands of veterans and 
family members interred at the Black Hills National Cemetery, as well 
as counseling family members in times of grief and working to 
facilitate the burials of veterans when issues arise with discharge and 
eligibility. She has approached her public service with a high degree 
of professionalism, dedication, and commitment to our Nation's 
veterans. I applaud her for her service and wish her well in her new 
endeavors.

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