[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 190 (Monday, December 12, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Page S8488]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO MR. JERRY LOLLEY

 Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Mr. President, today I recognize 
the public service of a veterans service officer from South Dakota who 
is retiring after nearly 40 years of dedicated military and public 
service to veterans and their families.
  Jerry Lolley has served as Meade County veterans service officer 
since 1992. Jerry's wife Harriet, known as ``Granny,'' and children 
Grant and Lara have always supported Jerry while he has provided 
tireless service to thousands of veterans seeking assistance with 
benefit claims, medals requests, records searches, payment issues, and 
health care issues. He has always been a valuable source of needed 
information for the families of veterans as well.
  Military service and an understanding of the needs and issues of our 
military service personnel and veterans is deeply rooted with Jerry. 
After spending 2 years at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, 
he served in the U.S. Air Force from 1968 to 1988 and retired as an E-
7, providing dedicated service as an aircraft mechanic. His father 
served in General Patton's Army in World War II.
  But Jerry's service extends also to the numerous issues impacting 
veterans and their families. He has been a constant advocate for 
veterans on Federal, State, and local issues of importance. He monitors 
Federal legislative issues and has shared valuable insight with me and 
my staff regarding potential impacts of legislation or VA agency 
decisions. He has always put the veteran first and foremost in his 
efforts, especially when it comes to improving health care resources, 
access, and level of care for veterans. He has also provided valuable 
insight on educational, spousal, dependent, and burial benefits.
  During the Persian Gulf war, Operation Enduring Freedom, and 
Operation Iraqi Freedom, Jerry has been diligent in providing returning 
soldiers with important information about deadlines involving access to 
health care services, assisting soldiers with applications for various 
benefits, and providing general information to assist in their return 
home.
  My staff and I have always valued Jerry's advocacy for veterans. He 
is rarely short on opinions on important matters and is quick to offer 
well-targeted questions toward agency officials to learn the basis for 
decisions and actions on various issues and even takes great care to 
request background information to verify or dispel the occasional rumor 
or misconception that may surface within the veterans community. His 
steadfast dedication to veterans has made him a great public servant 
and his service will be greatly missed.
  I wish Jerry and his family all the best in his retirement, and it is 
my hope that he can find other options to continue serving veterans in 
the future. I congratulate him on his military service and his great 
public service career.

                          ____________________