[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 132 (Thursday, September 8, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1566]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    HONORING HAL STRICKLAND FOR HIS DEDICATED SERVICE TO COMMUNITY 
                               RECREATION

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. GERALD E. CONNOLLY

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 8, 2011

  Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Hal 
Strickland for receiving the National Voluntary Service Award from the 
National Recreation and Park Association.
  This prestigious award is given to volunteers who work to improve 
recreation, parks and conservation programs in our communities. With 
more than three decades of volunteer service with local youth and parks 
organizations, Mr. Strickland has left a profound and lasting imprint 
on my community of Fairfax County, Va.
  In addition to his career as a civil engineer for the U.S. Forest 
Service, Mr. Strickland served 14 years on the Fairfax County Athletic 
Council, including two as chairman. He founded the Chantilly Youth 
Association, and spent 25 years as president of the community sports 
league. He served as president of the Greenbriar Civic Association, and 
for the past 20 years, he has served on the Fairfax County Park 
Authority Board, where he has served as chairman six times.
  He has said that he is most proud of his work on Fairfax County's 
successful synthetic turf field program. I was proud to partner with 
Mr. Strickland to launch that effort during my tenure as Chairman of 
the Fairfax Board of Supervisors. It played a vital component of our 
anti-gang initiative by providing young people with more year-round 
outdoor activities. This community collaboration also has expanded 
field opportunities for Fairfax's many sports leagues. The program now 
has more than two dozen synthetic fields across the county.
  He is also known for his work of preserving green spaces in 
Centreville and Chantilly, despite the areas' rapid growth. This green 
space resembles the historic beginnings of the area, when it was a 
collection of gentlemen horse farms. He has truly influenced the 
quality of life in Fairfax through his accomplishments.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in commending Hal 
Strickland for receiving the National Voluntary Service Award and 
thanking him for his years of service in our community. Through his 
dedicated service, we are preserving our history through green spaces 
and making recreational activities more accessible to all for 
generations to come.

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