[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 118 (Thursday, July 13, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E979]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING DEBBIE KRYCZKOWSKI, DEPARTMENT PRESIDENT, DEPARTMENT OF NEW 
                     YORK AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. CLAUDIA TENNEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 13, 2017

  Ms. TENNEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Debbie Kryczkowski, who 
was elected Department (State) President of the American Legion 
Auxiliary, Department of New York at the 96th annual convention in 
Binghamton, NY. Debbie is a 33-year member of Lee Unit 1794 of Oneida 
County, a past unit president, and life member. Debbie remains very 
active in her Unit, presently serving as Secretary. Debbie continues 
volunteering for various unit functions.
  Debbie has chaired many committees on the county level and county 
offices, and is currently serving as Constitution & Bylaws Chair. 
Debbie received department awards as the County Chairman of Leadership, 
Empire Girls State, Membership and Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation. 
Debbie served as 5th District President, District Membership Chairman, 
Sergeant at Arms, and a District representative at Department 
Conventions and member of two Department Convention Committees.
  On the Department level, Debbie served on Junior Activities, 
Executive Board, Public Relation, National Security, Children & Youth 
and Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation and is currently the Membership 
Chairman. Debbie is a graduate of the National American Legion 
Extension Institute and National American Auxiliary Leadership 
Correspondence Course. She was the Public Relations Instructor and is 
an Alumni of the American Legion Auxiliary College. Debbie is a Chapeau 
Passe' of the Oneida County Salon No. 31.
  Debbie is spending the year promoting and raising money for the 
Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors. The Tragedy Assistance 
Program for Survivors (TAPS) offers compassionate care to all those 
grieving the death of a loved one serving in our Armed Forces. Since 
1994, TAPS has provided comfort and hope 24 hours a day, seven days a 
week through a national peer support network and connection to grief 
resources, all at no cost to surviving families and loved ones.
  Their National Military Survivor Seminar and Good Grief camp has been 
held annually since 1994. TAPS also conducts regional Survivor Seminars 
and Good Grief Camps at locations across the country. The Tragedy 
Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) is a not-for-profit 
organization and is not part of, or endorsed by, the Department of 
Defense.
  On a personal level, Debbie received her eligibility through her 
brother, a Vietnam and U.S. Army Veteran Philip Racquet. She has five 
brothers, who are all Vietnam Veterans, and has three sisters. Her 
deceased father, Phillip E Racquet, was a WWII Army Veteran of the 
European Theater. Debbie's son is Retired Tech. Sgt. Robert 
Kryczkowski, Jr. of the United States Air Force. Debbie has five 
grandsons: Kevin, Nathan, Zachary, Rylan, and Christian. She is a 
volunteer with the Hemlocks at Rome Hospital and Rome Rotary Club as a 
Board of Director. Debbie recently retired from M&T Bank to devote her 
time to her family and her American Legion Family.

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