[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 12 (Thursday, January 26, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Pages S121-S122]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 TRIBUTE TO MAJOR GENERAL MICHAEL DUBIE

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I would like to take a moment to pay 
tribute to Major General Michael Dubie, the Adjutant General of the 
Vermont National Guard. Throughout his career, General Dubie has 
demonstrated selfless dedication and service to our State and our 
country. I was very pleased to learn that Vermont's largest newspaper, 
the Burlington Free Press, recently named General Dubie the Vermonter 
of the Year. He certainly deserves the honor.
  Earlier this year, when Tropical Storm Irene devastated much of 
Vermont, General Dubie led the Vermont National Guard in confronting 
one of the most serious crises our State has ever faced. The Guard 
acted immediately to deliver emergency supplies to victims cut off by 
the storm's destruction. Helicopters airdropped food and water. When it 
became apparent that Vermont needed more airlift because some of the

[[Page S122]]

Vermont Guard's helicopters were in Iraq, General Dubie coordinated 
with other State Guards to get the help Vermont needed.
  The Guard's intensive rescue and aid mission eventually evolved into 
a longer-term recovery and rebuilding mission. Skillfully and 
tirelessly, Vermont citizen-soldiers set to work removing debris and 
rebuilding roads and infrastructure.
  General Dubie commanded some 500 activated Guard members in the wake 
of Irene. But that does not account for other ongoing missions in 2011, 
or the substantial contribution the Vermont Guard has made to the wars 
in Afghanistan and Iraq--including a major activation to Afghanistan in 
2010. In honoring General Dubie as Vermonter of the Year, we pay 
tribute to the tremendous sacrifice made both in State and overseas by 
Vermont National Guard members and their families.
  True to form, General Dubie, despite his extensive experience with 
dangerous overseas missions, has called the Irene deployment the 
proudest mission of his career because he was able to directly help so 
many of his fellow Vermonters.
  MG Michael Dubie is a proven leader and he embodies the best of 
Vermont. I am proud to recognize his hard work and I wish him continued 
success in his career.
  I ask unanimous consent that the Burlington Free Press article 
entitled ``Maj. Gen. Dubie is Vermonter of the Year'' be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

             [From the Burlington Free Press, Jan. 1, 2012]

                Maj. Gen. Dubie Is Vermonter of the Year

       As the Vermonter of the Year, we select Maj. Gen. Michael 
     Dubie, adjutant general of the Vermont National Guard, as the 
     representative of the team of men and women of the Guard and 
     the many civilians who worked together to help Vermont 
     recover from Tropical Storm Irene.
       In our lifetime, Tropical Storm Irene is arguably the 
     biggest and most dominant local news story. Three people lost 
     their lives during the storm. Vermont National Guard 1st Sgt. 
     Shawn Stocker lost his life working to respond. Thousands 
     lost their homes, their businesses and many of their 
     possessions. Thousands more suffered property damage. Irene 
     washed away some roads, damaged many others and rendered 
     useless the state office complex in Waterbury.
       Who would have thought that our state could recover so well 
     in less than 90 days!
       Vermonters owe this recovery to so many. State and local 
     government leaders have done their jobs well. In every 
     community impacted by the storm, there were at least a few 
     civilians who devoted most of their time and energy for many 
     weeks helping their community respond and recover. Hundreds 
     of volunteers from all over our state and beyond stepped up 
     to do extraordinary things. They collectively demonstrated 
     both the indomitable spirit of Vermonters and our love for 
     community.
       Approximately 500 Vermont National Guard members were 
     activated as well. We are especially mindful that this 
     activation is in addition to Air Guard deployments to Norway 
     and Korea, ongoing Vermont National Guard missions in 
     Djibouti, Kosovo, Macedonia and Senegal, helicopter rescues 
     in Iraq--all in 2011--and following the major activation to 
     Afghanistan in 2010. Let us also remember, as the Iraq War 
     officially comes to its end, the tremendous sacrifice made by 
     Vermont National Guard members and their families while 
     serving our country during these past nine years.
       As Dubie said in nominating the men and women of the 
     Vermont National Guard, ``As you know, we are a team. It is 
     what makes us so strong.'' In responding to Tropical Storm 
     Irene, the Vermont ``team'' also included many civilians. 
     Together, the Vermont National Guard and the community 
     members searched and rescued and then delivered supplies to 
     people in otherwise unreachable locations. Then they began 
     reconstruction. In addition to the National Guard, all of 
     these volunteers should be commended and thanked for their 
     efforts.
       We can choose only one person, however, as Vermonter of the 
     Year. Because so many people did so much, the selection 
     committee found it hard to identify a single individual to 
     recognize. So we choose Maj. Gen. Michael Dubie to honor them 
     all.

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