[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 77 (Tuesday, June 4, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E797]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   COMMENDING LOCAL 2013 HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES FOR THEIR DECISION TO 
 ENLIST IN THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS AND OUR COMMUNITY SALUTES OF 
  NORTHERN VIRGINIA FOR HOSTING THE THIRD ANNUAL HIGH SCHOOL ENLISTEE 
                          RECOGNITION CEREMONY

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. GERALD E. CONNOLLY

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 4, 2013

  Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize 51 graduating seniors 
in my community for their record of academic and athletic 
accomplishment and for their admirable decision to enlist in the United 
States Marine Corps. I also express my appreciation to Our Community 
Salutes of Northern Virginia for providing this opportunity to be among 
the first to say to each of these young men and women: ``Thank you.''
   I have had the privilege of working with Our Community Salutes of 
Northern Virginia since its inception in 2011. That year my office was 
contacted by one of the founding parents who upon learning that her son 
and other students at his school who had decided to enlist would not 
receive any recognition during graduation, joined with other parents to 
organize the first enlistee recognition ceremony of its kind in the 
region. The first ceremony recognized 9 students. In two short years 
that number has grown to 101.
   With graduation season upon us, thousands of young people in my 
community, and millions across the nation, are preparing for the next 
chapter in their lives. Some will pursue higher education or vocational 
training, others will seek to enter the workforce immediately, and many 
will answer the call to serve their community and their country.
   The United States of America has distinguished itself from other 
nations through the entrepreneurship and spirit of our people, the 
knowledge that we can achieve any goal if we set our minds to it, our 
inherent compassion and generosity, our fierce patriotism, and the 
extraordinary sacrifices and dedication to country exhibited by the 
members of our Armed Forces. The young men and women from our community 
who will be enlisting possess an abundance of each of these qualities. 
I join with their families and friends in congratulating and commending 
the following graduates on their enlistment in the United States Marine 
Corps:
   Kamo Abdulrahman; Jonathan Aguilar; Kevin Amaya; Jackson Burgess; 
Benjamin Burruss; Daniel Chhieu; Emily Collins; Latrice Coram; Larry 
Davis; James Degrafft; Kevin Diaz; Ludvigsen Diaz; Aaron Elassal; Jacob 
Facas; Mario Fajardo; Azad Fattahi; Ismael Ferman; Christopher Foerter; 
Spencer Gonsalvez; Veronica Gonzalez; Matthew Gregory; Jeffrey Hong; 
Nicholas Hunter; Mateusz Laguna; Gwendetta Mabry; Isaac Martinez; 
Tyreek Minter; Robert Mondloch; Yenifer Montalvo; Matthew Moser; Jason 
Pabontancara; Omar Paniagua; Tae Park; Erik Ploompuu; Herson Reyes; 
Jorge Ribera-Pedraza; Carlos Rodriguez; Leonel Santos; Romeo Sarmiento, 
III; Bradley Sherman; Simranjit Singh; Joshua Skym; David Smith; Kyle 
Stears; Brittany Thompson; Christian Valencia; Leopoldo Valiente 
Marquez; Joseph Stephen Vanwijngaarden; Deyvis Vasquez Soto; William 
Vo; Jaime Zamora
   Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in applauding the 
courage and dedication of these graduates and in assuring them and 
their families that the full support and resources of the U.S. Congress 
and the American people will be behind them on every step of their 
journey in defense our nation's freedom.