[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 131 (Friday, September 28, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1669]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO SARAH DEMAREE

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. GREG WALDEN

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 28, 2012

  Mr. WALDEN. Mr. Speaker, now that we have returned to our districts 
before the election, I'd like to highlight a valuable staff member of 
mine who recently left my office. I rise today to pay tribute and say 
thanks to Sarah Demaree, a member of my staff who dedicated herself to 
the people of Oregon's Second Congressional District for nearly three 
years in my Washington, DC, Office.
  Sarah is a talented young woman who filled many different roles in my 
office, and was up to the challenge for each one. First joining the 
office as an intern after graduating from Colgate University, Sarah 
quickly stepped into the role of staff assistant and has continued to 
take on more responsibility as a legislative correspondent and 
legislative assistant handling education issues.
  Whatever she was asked to do--even if she wasn't asked directly to do 
it--Sarah was up to the challenge. When she was staff assistant, she 
went above and beyond to make all Oregonians who visited feel welcome. 
Each and every one came a long way, and she gave them some of the best 
Capitol tours on the Hill. As legislative correspondent, she helped me 
keep in close touch with all corners of the Second District.
  Sarah adeptly handled complex policy issues as my education advisor. 
In that role, Sarah kept in close touch with teachers throughout Oregon 
and maintained a close relationship to teacher groups and education 
administrators.
  Sarah also organized several visits from a group of special men and 
women, World War II veterans from Oregon as part of Honor Flight of 
Oregon and Honor Flight of Eastern Oregon. Each time a group travelled 
to Washington, Sarah would plan their visits for weeks to make sure 
each and every one of these heroes had a perfect trip to the nation's 
capital. She was known to rise early on Saturday mornings to go to the 
World War II Memorial to greet these veterans, and present them with 
flags flown over the Capitol. The organizers of these visits, Gail 
Yakopatz and Dick Tobiason, always singled out Sarah for her help, 
praising her dedication and Tenacity.
  While not a native Oregonian, Sarah has deep ties to the state, 
whether through her annual family camping trip to Howard Prairie Lake 
outside of Ashland or her extended family in Portland. These deep 
connections to the state allowed her to connect with Oregonians from 
around the Second District.
  While Sarah has dedicated herself to public service here in our 
nation's capital, she has headed back to her native Washington State to 
enter a new and exciting phase of her life. Sarah has given up the 
``maroon and white'' of her alma mater, Colgate University, for the 
``purple and gold'' of her home state University of Washington where 
she began law school this fall.
  I'm sure that law school has been keeping Sarah plenty busy, but with 
her industrious work ethic, and desire to make the world a better 
place, I can imagine Sarah will soon be putting her energy into public 
service in Washington State. She's also closer to her mom and dad, Walt 
and Liz, and to her beloved Seattle Seahawks. I speak for all members 
of Team Walden when I say Sarah's dedication and talent have been 
missed, but we wish her best of luck as she begins her new life in 
``the other'' Washington.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in wishing Sarah the best of luck as 
she returns West and pursues new personal and professional endeavors. 
Sarah, thanks for exemplary service to the Congress and citizens of 
Oregon.

                          ____________________