[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 113 (Monday, July 8, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Page S4695]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO JOHN FALKENBURY

  Mr. BURR. Mr. President, today I wish to pay tribute to my 
constituent and friend, John Falkenbury who is retiring this month as 
president and COO of the USO of North Carolina. John has served the USO 
in North Carolina successfully since March 2009.
  In this role, John has been responsible for planning, organizing, and 
directing the operations of the Sate headquarters, five USO fixed 
centers, and a mobile center in the areas in and surrounding 
Jacksonville, Charlotte, Fayetteville, and Raleigh-Durham, NC. These 
base and airport centers provide a full range of important services 
including critical resiliency, transition assistance, financial 
literacy, and children's educational programs; travel assistance at 
Charlotte Douglas International, Raleigh-Durham, and Fayetteville 
airports; deployment and homecoming operations; internet and video link 
access; military and civilian community outreach programs; fallen and 
Wounded Warrior escort services; holiday feasts; and extensive morale-
boosting activities.
  Remarkably, in the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew, the USO of North 
Carolina was able to quickly arrange for nearly 1,000 care packages 
that were airlifted by Blackhawk helicopters to soldiers and civilians 
in the stricken areas. For 5 days, the mobile center deployed within 24 
hours to establish a center in the Guard's primary and austere ``tent 
city'' near Lumberton and provided basic necessity items, a BBQ dinner, 
satellite, and internet services to over 400 soldiers.
  I also rise today to thank Mr. Falkenbury for his 20 years of service 
in the U.S. Army prior to his work for the USO. His military experience 
included assignments throughout the United States and in Germany, 
including battalion executive officer, 2nd Armored Division, Fort Hood, 
TX; chief of operations and later director of public affairs, 56th 
Field Artillery Command, Germany; director of public affairs, U.S. Army 
War College and Carlisle Barracks at Carlisle Barracks, PA.
  I am honored to congratulate John Falkenbury on his retirement from a 
career of distinguished public service and to thank him for his 
commitment to this great Nation.

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