[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 47 (Wednesday, March 21, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E400]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 TRIBUTE TO CHAIRMAN LARRY HYLAND AND THE SENIOR CITIZENS LEAGUE BOARD 
                              OF TRUSTEES

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MIKE McINTYRE

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 21, 2012

  Mr. McINTYRE. Mr. Speaker, I am here to congratulate Larry Hyland, 
the Chairman of The Senior Citizens League (TSCL) and its Board of 
Trustee members for their work in educating the public and Congress 
about issues of utmost importance to America's seniors. The Senior 
Citizens League represents over 1 million members nationwide and 3,844 
in my Congressional district.
  The Senior Citizens league is a non-profit, non-partisan organization 
headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia, that strives to educate millions 
of seniors and Members of Congress through senior faxes, e-alerts, 
Public Service Announcements, newspapers ads, direct mail, and 
publications such as a monthly newsletter--The Advisor.
  Five members of The Retired Enlisted Association (TREA) work 
tirelessly for The Senior Citizens League as non-paid volunteers to 
help our most elderly and low income seniors: TSCL Chairman Larry 
Hyland, Vice Chairman Thomas O'Connell, Treasurer Edward Cates, 
Secretary Charlie Flowers, and PAC Treasurer Michael Gales. In 
addition, TREA Liaison Arthur Cooper and Past TSCL Chairman Daniel 
O'Connell also serve on the Board of Trustees.
  Chairman Larry Hyland retired from the U.S. Air Force as a senior 
master sergeant. During the Vietnam War era, Hyland was an aircraft 
crew chief flying on missions into and out of Vietnam and flew in the 
evacuations of 1975. After active duty, he launched a small business 
and later entered Federal civil service working for 16 years before 
retiring from the office of the Air Force Director of Operations, 
Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Plans and Requirements, 
Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington DC.
  Vice Chairman Thomas O'Connell served in the U.S. Army including 
service as Division Logistics NCO. His experiences as a high school 
teacher, author, and librarian have facilitated his work on the TSCL 
Board of Trustees. He participates in many local community 
organizations in Westerly, RI.
  Treasurer Edward Cates served in the U.S. Army National Guard, U.S. 
Air Force from 1965 to 1996. He serves as the principal financial 
officer for TSCL and also as the Treasurer of the TREA Memorial 
Foundation. Cates is 1st Vice President of TREA Chapter 1 in Colorado 
Springs, CO.
  Secretary Charlie Flowers served in the U.S. Air Force for over 21 
years. He has served as the National President of TREA. Also, he served 
on the TREA National Board as a Director and as National 
Parliamentarian. He resides in Denver, CO.
  Michael Gales served in the U.S. military for 27 years and is a 
lifetime member of TREA since 1988. He is active in his community and 
he serves as President of the Patterson Avenue Improvement Association 
in Baltimore, MD.
  TREA Liaison Arthur Cooper served in the U.S. Army for over 20 years, 
completing his last tour as a Department of Nursing Education NCOIC. He 
currently serves as the National President of TREA. Cooper resides in 
Gambrills, MD.
  Immediate Past TSCL Chairman Daniel O'Connell served in the U.S. Air 
Force for 29 years, retiring as a chief master sergeant. His U.S. Air 
Force career included service as the Training NCO for the Queens 
College ROTC Program. O'Connell also worked in protocol at the Air 
Force Space Command in Colorado Springs where he retired as Director of 
Protocol.
  The TSCL Board visits Capitol Hill in Washington several times a year 
to personally meet with Members of the U.S. House and Senate to consult 
with them about seniors' issues. TSCL is especially interested in 
Social Security remaining solvent and preserved for future generations.
  Under the leadership of Chairman Larry Hyland, The Senior Citizens 
League has strictly adhered to its non-partisan status. Most notably, 
Chairman Hyland has guided TSCL in its movement toward a more broad-
based and multi-issue organization. TSCL has become a leader on issues 
such as U.S.-Mexico Totalization (via FOIA documents), a Social 
Security COLA to be based on a Consumer Price Index for the Elderly, 
Social Security Guarantee, Social Security Trust Fund Lock-Box, and 
Social Security Notch Fairness.
  Each of the Board members has rendered military service to their 
country, and each has worked tirelessly to speak in behalf of seniors 
and The Senior Citizens League. Several Members of Congress thanked 
them personally for showing up in their offices, saying: ``we never see 
representatives of some other senior groups, but your organization 
always visits us.''
  Their determination to assist the most worthy and needy of our 
citizens is commendable.

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