[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 156 (Tuesday, October 18, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1891]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 HONORING THE SERVICE OF GLEN KERSLAKE

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. ADAM SMITH

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 18, 2011

  Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, today I honor Mr. Glen Kerslake 
of Tucson, Arizona, for a lifetime of service to country and community. 
Mr. Kerslake, who I had the pleasure of meeting in Tucson, is known to 
me for his close work with our colleague, Congresswoman Gabrielle 
Giffords, to support southern Arizona's military members, veterans, and 
military and veterans' families.
  Glen joined the Tucson community in 1994 and quickly developed a 
record of deep and devoted service to southern Arizona--serving on the 
boards of the Tucson Arizona Boys Chorus and National Apartment 
Association, as a member of the Southern Arizona Leadership Council, 
and as President of the Arizona Conservation Land Stewards, among other 
community contributions.
  Glen made one of his greatest civic impacts serving Tucson's military 
community and the proud men and women who make it up. He has served as 
a member, president, and board-member of the Davis-Monthan 50, a 
committed group of Tucson civic and business leaders dedicated to 
strengthening the relationship between Davis-Monthan Air Force Base and 
the civilian population of the region. As a DM-50 member and then 
president of the organization, Glen helped thousands of airmen through 
the child car safety seat program, which supplies car seats to young 
military families, and the development of the important Bachelor of 
Applied Science in Meteorology program at the University of Arizona. He 
also made critical contributions to Tucson's Military Community 
Relations Committee, a local organization dedicated to resolution of 
key issues between Davis-Monthan Air Force Base and the community.
  Recently, Glen was most passionate about his role as the Honorary 
Commander of the 612th Air and Space Operations Center. Glen took great 
pride in the critical nature of the 612th AOC's mission and its 
heritage springing from the famous Doolittle Raiders of World War II. 
The Raiders took great risk performing a tactical mission, executed in 
a joint manner, at a crucial juncture for our nation, ultimately 
demonstrating the strategic reach of American airpower. The 612th AOC 
was dedicated the Gen. James H. Doolittle Center in honor of the leader 
of the Doolittle raid, who was also the first commanding general of 
12th Air Force.
  I was this heritage and the 612th AOC's unit motto, ``Leading the 
Fight--Ever Vigilant, Omnis Vigilantia,'' along with an abiding 
commitment to Davis-Monthan's airmen and women, that inspired Glen's 
efforts to ensure the unit would remain at Davis-Monthan when its 
continued existence in Arizona was threatened. Glen sprung into action 
and worked closely with Congresswoman Giffords' office to lead a 
diverse group of community and governmental stakeholders to stop the 
effort to move the 612th AOC's operations.
  The Congress and this country owe Glen, his family, and countless 
community leaders in Glen's mold a debt of gratitude for their selfless 
and inspired service. Please join Congresswoman Giffords and me today 
in honoring Mr. Glen Kerslake of Tucson, Arizona.

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