[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 71 (Thursday, May 17, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E833]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                     TRIBUTE TO CHARLES N. BIKAKIS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. KEVIN McCARTHY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 17, 2012

  Mr. McCARTHY of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Chuck 
Bikakis, who recently retired as the Director of the Kern County 
Veterans Service Department. Chuck has been a motivated and passionate 
advocate for our veterans in Kern County for the past 14 years.
  A veteran of the United States Marine Corps, Chuck received his 
Bachelor's degree from the United States Naval Academy and entered the 
Marine Corps in 1960. Chuck retired with the rank of Major after 20 
years of service. In that time, Chuck served our country in Vietnam 
from August 1968 through September 1969.
  After his retirement from the Marine Corps in 1980, Chuck relocated 
to Bakersfield and worked in real estate. He then worked in a Job 
Developer position with the Kern County Employers' Training Resource 
starting in January 1994 until the Kern County Board of Supervisors 
appointed him to the position of Director of the Kern County Veterans 
Service Department. Chuck held the position of Director of the Veterans 
Service Department since April 20, 1998.
  Shortly after his appointment, Chuck relocated the Veterans Service 
Department to its current location and established the Kern County 
Veterans Services center. This one-stop Center now includes a Job 
Developer from Employers' Training Resource and a computer resource 
room. He was instrumental in bringing to Bakersfield the California 
Veterans Assistance Foundation, which operates a transitional housing 
program for veterans.
  There are many other examples of Chuck's leadership that will 
continue to benefit veterans of Kern County for years to come. Chuck's 
concern for homeless veterans led to the first Kern County Homeless 
Veterans Stand Down during October 1999. With the assistance and 
support of veteran organizations, community volunteers, and local 
businesses, Stand Down has become an annual event that provides 
outreach and guidance to homeless veterans to give them the opportunity 
toward a new beginning away from life on the streets. Chuck has also 
collected funds to assist the families of deployed servicemembers and 
was an active participant in the design and development of the Kern 
County Veterans Memorial and the Bakersfield National Cemetery.
  Dedicated to education and service on multiple levels, Chuck's 
retirement will leave big shoes to fill at the Kern County Veterans 
Service Department. I commend his service to the thousands of veterans 
in our area, thank him for his dedication, and join many members in our 
community in wishing Chuck our best wishes as he embarks into the next 
chapter of his life.

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