[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 104 (Thursday, July 12, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1238]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             IN HONOR OF THE 20TH VENTURA COUNTY STAND DOWN

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ELTON GALLEGLY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 12, 2012

  Mr. GALLEGLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the outstanding 
achievements of Ventura County Stand Down, which next week will mark 20 
years of helping homeless veterans combat life on the streets.
  During the three-day, two-night Stand Down, veterans will live on the 
campus of the California Army National Guard Armory in military-style 
tents erected by the Seabees. They will have access to showers, 
toiletries, new and used clean clothing, and hot meals each day.
  Working in conjunction with dozens of public and private agencies, 
Stand Down 2012 will provide homeless veterans with a myriad of 
services such as medical treatment, legal services, prescription 
lenses, employment counseling and referrals, VA benefits, drug and 
alcohol counseling, general relief information, transitional housing 
information, along with a range of other government and social 
services.
  It's a monumental undertaking. Ventura County Stand Down would not be 
a success--or have even been launched--without the skill and 
perseverance of Claire Hope, the founder and chairperson of Ventura 
County Stand Down. The daughter of a World War II veteran and mother of 
a veteran of Desert Storm, Claire Hope has a soft heart for veterans 
and a strong will to help those in need.
  About 300 volunteers help Claire each year. Another nearly 300 
companies, corporations, and non-profit organizations are on board. 
About 20 service providers take part and 20 committees oversee all 
aspects of the event, from planning, to execution, to cleanup, to 
follow-up.
  Many of the volunteers have been with Claire since the beginning 
While I can't name them all, I would be remiss without noting several 
key people whose efforts have meant so much to our veterans. They 
include 20-year Executive Committee Chairs J. Roger Myers, Herb 
Williams III, Dr. Cal Farmer, Madeline Lee, Gene Ogden, Jean Farley, 
and Hal Nachenberg. Other Executive Committee Chairs include Judge Pro-
Tem Nancy Aronson, Jodi Prior, Yasmin Morrison, Mary Gene Ryan, Betty 
Zamost, Charles Lane, Jane Towley, Bob Shiverdecker, Carl Lanterman, 
Gary Erland, Connie Biggers, Carol Rogers, and Jim Rogers.
  Special recognition for their ongoing major contributions to Stand 
Down belongs to: International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 
952; California Army National Guard Armory, Ventura; American Legion 
Auxiliary; American Legion; Beacon House--San Pedro; Salvation Army of 
Ventura; Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 11395 Thousand Oaks; Marjorie 
Mosher Schmidt Foundation; New Directions Technologies, Inc.; U.S. 
Department of Veterans Affairs; Beacon House San Pedro; Naval 
Facilities Expeditionary Logistics Center & the Thirty-First Seabee 
Readiness Group; Ventura County Bar Association Ventura County Public 
Defenders; Chief's Council of the 146th Airlift Wing of the California 
Air National Guard; Ventura Superior Court Homeless Court; and Neal C. 
Green, DDS.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to be affiliated with Ventura County as 
Honorary Cochairman for the 20th year. I know my colleagues will join 
me in recognizing the importance of Ventura County Stand Down and in 
thanking Claire Hope and her myriad of volunteers for their selfless 
efforts in helping those who served our country and who fell on hard 
times to have a fighting chance to resume a life of stability and 
peace. It's a yeoman's effort, and one worth undertaking.

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