[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 165 (Thursday, November 5, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1613]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            HONORING EL PASO VETERANS WHO CONTINUE TO SERVE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BETO O'ROURKE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, November 5, 2015

  Mr. O'ROURKE. Mr. Speaker, Veterans Day is a time to honor the 
selfless service that members of our Armed Forces displayed while 
keeping our nation safe. Today, I am privileged to recognize five of my 
constituents who continue to serve long after their time in uniform has 
ended: Mr. Jose Andow, Mr. Roy Aldridge, Mr. Ron Holmes, Mr. David 
Garcia and Mrs. Melinda Russell. Although each is from a different 
generation, these veterans embody a continued dedication to their 
fellow veterans and the El Paso community.
  Jose Andow understands the price our service members pay in the name 
of freedom from his experience fighting in WWII. As one of five 
siblings to serve in WWII, Mr. Andow was part of 10 combat missions 
during the war flying in both Italy and Germany. As a way to continue 
serving his country even decades after his formal military service 
ended, Mr. Andow has volunteered regularly at the El Paso VA Health 
Care System since November of 2010, and has logged over 1,600 hours of 
volunteer service. At age 94, Mr. Andow still volunteers every Monday 
and Wednesday at the VA, where he greets local veterans as they come in 
to receive care. Throughout the country over 140,000 volunteers donate 
millions of hours volunteering at local VA hospitals and clinics 
annually. Their service enhances the veteran healthcare experience and 
supplements VA's ability to provide quality care to our veterans. Due 
to his significant contribution to the El Paso VA and his fellow 
veterans, I am proud to recognize Mr. Andow for a lifetime of selfless 
service to our country.
  Roy Aldridge is a combat veteran of the Korean War and a prominent 
member of the El Paso veteran community. After enlisting in the 
National Guard in 1949 at the age of 16 and then being wounded in 
Korea, Mr. Aldridge was discharged from the military for being 
underage. He completed high school, reenlisted, and returned to Korea 
in 1953. After being shot down and spending five months as a prisoner 
of war in North Korea, Mr. Aldridge returned to the U.S. where he 
completed a distinguished military career. Following retirement, Mr. 
Aldridge has continued to advocate for his fellow veterans. He has 
served as a Vice President for the Korean War Veterans Association and 
is currently the organization's National Director. Additionally Mr. 
Aldridge is a member of the VA Volunteer Service and the Texas Veterans 
Commission. Mr. Aldridge also serves on my office's Veterans Citizen 
Advisory Panel where he regularly advocates for policies to improve 
veteran's benefits and healthcare services.
  Ron Holmes is a Vietnam-era veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps. After 
serving four years, attaining the rank of Sergeant and deploying to 
Okinawa, Mr. Holmes left the Marines in 1974 to begin a construction 
business in El Paso. After observing neglect of his fellow veterans at 
the VA in 1997, Mr. Holmes decided to volunteer his time and advocate 
for his fellow veterans in El Paso while simultaneously running his 
business. From a small office at a Northeast El Paso American Legion 
Post, Mr. Holmes has since assisted over 3,500 El Paso veterans 
attempting to obtain benefits from the VA and has received favorable 
decisions in most of these cases.
  David Garcia enlisted in the United States Army in 1975, later 
deploying to Saudi Arabia in support of Operation Desert Storm/Desert 
Shield. Following 20 years of honorable military service, Mr. Garcia 
retired as a Chief Warrant Officer. Since leaving active duty, Mr. 
Garcia has dedicated himself to fulfilling the promise to care for the 
men and women who have served our great nation. Mr. Garcia subsequently 
became a member of Disabled American Veterans in 1999 and since has 
served in multiple leadership roles for the organization, including 
District 1 commander, Northeast El Paso Chapter 187 Senior Vice-
Commander and Combat Related Special Compensation ambassador. Mr. 
Garcia has assisted numerous El Paso veterans, family members and 
widows in obtaining earned benefits from the VA. He continues to 
advocate for important veteran issues including toxic exposure and 
quality orthotic and prosthetic services within VA.
  Melinda Russell served as a Chaplain in Iraq and was medically 
retired from the Army in 2010 at the rank of Captain. After leaving the 
military, Mrs. Russell dedicated herself to improving veteran 
healthcare by offering alternative therapies and being a persistent, 
dedicated advocate for her fallen veterans. Retiring in El Paso, Mrs. 
Russell founded Hope and Healing Horse Therapy Ranch to help those 
veterans suffering from PTSD and TBI. Additionally, at a time when 22 
veterans take their own lives daily, her moving and personal writings 
serve as a stark reminder that we have a responsibility to care for our 
service members and veterans both physically and mentally.
  Mr. Speaker, as Veterans Day approaches, it is important that we 
remember the legacy of service of this country's veterans. Our country 
can learn from and be inspired by the examples set by Mr. Andow, Mr. 
Aldridge, Mr. Holmes, Mr. Garcia and Mrs. Russell. It is my honor to 
recognize these veterans who continue to serve in advance of Veterans 
Day 2015.

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