[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 189 (Tuesday, November 26, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1505]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                HONORING THE LIFE OF DONALD NATHAN CARR

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. GERALD E. CONNOLLY

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 26, 2019

  Mr. CONNOLLY. Madam Speaker, I rise to celebrate and honor the life 
of Donald (Don) Nathan Carr. Sadly, Don passed away unexpectedly on 
Monday, November 18, 2019.
  Don was born in Texas on June 27, 1951. Upon graduation from high 
school in 1969, Don joined the U.S. Army and served in the Vietnam 
Conflict. He became an Army Public Affairs officer, serving in 
Thailand, Germany, Texas, Alaska, and for five years at the Pentagon. 
He retired as a Master Sergeant in 1990 following 21 years of honorable 
service to our nation.
  After his retirement from active duty, he began his civil service 
career at Fort Belvoir, located in Fairfax County, Virginia. His first 
position at Fort Belvoir was Editor of the Belvoir Eagle and he quickly 
advanced to Command Information Chief and finally to the position of 
Director of Public Affairs. Don believed that it was crucial for Fort 
Belvoir to fully engage the non-military community in order to create a 
true partnership in the sweeping changes that faced the region and the 
Garrison.
  Of course, one of the most significant challenges during Don's tenure 
was Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) which greatly expanded the 
mission and footprint of Fort Belvoir and transferred countless DoD 
agencies and departments, as well as tens of thousands of employees and 
soldiers to Fort Belvoir.
  As then-Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, I worked 
with Fort Belvoir to ensure this process would be as smooth as 
possible. A major concern of the community was the impact on the 
region's already congested roads. Upon my election to Congress in 2008, 
these concerns and others persisted, largely because the BRAC plan 
provided no funding for transportation. Finally, through a genuine 
collaboration between DoD, local and state partners, and federal 
funding of $61 million through the Recovery Act, the Fairfax County 
Parkway was completed. The communication and transparency of Fort 
Belvoir leadership, including Don, were instrumental in achieving this 
goal.
  Don was also of great assistance to my office with resolving any 
issues brought to my attention from those stationed or working at Fort 
Belvoir. He would consistently take prompt action to resolve any 
problems that arose. He retired from civil service in 2012, having 
served our nation--in uniform and out--for a combined total of 43 
years, Even after his retirement, he was always available to discuss 
issues and provide guidance to my office,
  Madam Speaker, Don was a kind and generous man and will be greatly 
missed. I ask my colleagues to join me in expressing our deepest 
condolences to Don's wife, Noy, his children and his grandchildren. He 
was devoted to his family and I know how much joy they gave him. I hope 
that the outpouring of sympathy and support from Don's colleagues, 
friends, and our community will be a source of strength and comfort to 
his family during this time.

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