[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 108 (Wednesday, July 6, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Page S4824]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO MICHAEL REESE

 Mr. VITTER. Mr. President, today I wish to honor Michael 
Reese, chairman of Fort Polk Progress, who received the 2016 National 
Community Leadership Award from the Association of Defense Communities.
  Originally from Leesville, LA, Reese attended Leesville High School 
and later graduated at the University of Louisiana at Monroe. In 2006, 
he was one of the founders of Fort Polk Progress, a regional 
organization that supports Fort Polk and the Joint Readiness Training 
Center. With his roots in the Fort Polk area, Reese set out to ensure 
that military families would be heard in decisions taking place at the 
fort. Through his hard work over the years, Michael has fought to 
support the needs of the base, while also addressing the needs of the 
community. In recent years, he worked with national leaders to obtain a 
new elementary school for Fort Polk that will serve more than 800 
students and will open later in this year. Also, Michael helped ensure 
quality healthcare remains available on base with his work to help save 
the hospital from being downgraded to a clinic.
  Michael Reese's dedication to military families and his public 
service are seen in the day-to-day work he performs for his community. 
In addition to serving as the CEO of American Moving and Storage, Inc., 
he serves as a member of the Leesville Lions Club, the Association of 
Defense Communities, Association of the United States Army, Vernon 
Chamber of Commerce, Central Louisiana Chamber of Commerce, Beauregard 
Chamber of Commerce, and Southwest Louisiana Economic Development 
Alliance. In addition, he serves on the board of directors of Merchants 
and Farmers Bank, the board of trustees of the Rapides Foundation, and 
the board of the Central Louisiana Economic Development Alliance, and 
he is a charter member of the Louisiana Military Affairs Council.
  With his unique leadership skills, he continues to keep quality of 
life issues a top priority on base, including his continued work to 
ensure that our local military men and women and their families get the 
quality health care they deserve. Michael Reese has clearly earned the 
honor of the National Community Leadership Award from the Association 
of Defense Communities, and I thank him for his dedicated service to 
Fort Polk, its military and civilian employees, and to the State of 
Louisiana.

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