[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 200 (Wednesday, December 19, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S7923]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO LARRY SHELLITO

 Ms. SMITH. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize and 
celebrate the career of retired lieutenant general and current 
Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs commissioner Larry Shellito. 
Commissioner Shellito will be retiring from the Minnesota Department of 
Veterans Affairs on January 7, 2019, after leading the department for 
the past 7 years. His leadership has ensured the Minnesota Department 
of Veterans Affairs will continue to provide excellent care and 
services for years to come.
  Commissioner Shellito began his career in 1968 when he enlisted in 
the U.S. Army, during which time he served in Vietnam as a mobile 
advisory team leader. In 1973, he joined the Minnesota National Guard 
where he served for the next 37 years. Starting as a rifle platoon 
leader, Commissioner Shellito went on to serve in nearly every command 
position within the Minnesota National Guard, and in 2003, he was 
appointed adjutant general by Governor Tim Pawlenty. In this final 
position, Commissioner Shellito diligently led the Minnesota National 
Guard in responding to domestic incidents, transforming the force from 
a ready reserve to an operational force through multiple deployments to 
the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. He made sure the needs of his 
soldiers and their families were met when they returned home through 
the creation and implementation of the Nation's first Yellow Ribbon 
Program. Commissioner Shellito's leadership transformed the Minnesota 
National Guard into one of our Nation's most respected and well-known 
organizations.
  While most people would retire after such an extensive career, 
Commissioner Shellito stepped up to the plate when Governor Mark Dayton 
asked him to serve as commissioner of the Minnesota Department of 
Veterans Affairs in 2011. At the Minnesota Department of Veterans 
Affairs, Commissioner Shellito has assisted Minnesota's 337,000 
veterans and their dependents get the benefits and services they have 
earned. His stewardship has ensured veterans can find a place to call 
home, can find jobs in the public and private sectors, and have access 
to the services they need to help them heal from physical and 
psychological wounds.
  In the past year alone, Commissioner Shellito has led the department 
in obtaining funding for three new veterans homes, improving 
residential satisfaction at Minneapolis veterans homes, opening a new 
state-of-the-art 100-bed skilled nursing care facility in Minneapolis, 
and establishing the Nation's first veterans home fixed dental care 
facility. The work Commissioner Shellito has done these past 7 years 
has set the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs up for success for 
years to come and is a testament to Commissioner Shellito's character 
and commitment to service.
  On behalf of myself and all Minnesotans, I want to congratulate 
Commissioner Shellito on an amazing career. Your more than 45 years of 
excellent public service, on Active and civilian duty, represents the 
finest Minnesota has to offer. We recognize your service, we are 
grateful for it, and we thank you.

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