[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 36 (Thursday, February 25, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H714-H716]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING HOMETOWN HEROES

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 4, 2021, the Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Florida 
(Mrs. Cammack) for 30 minutes.
  Mrs. CAMMACK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate and honor 
hometown heroes in my district and across the Nation, these proud 
Americans embodying the persistent, giving, and fighting spirit of our 
national creed.
  The COVID pandemic has put our country and our communities to the 
test, pushing us to seek positivity and hope in each day as we have 
weathered the storms that have come our way.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to highlight the great work and service of my 
constituents who have shown bravery and empathy in these trying times.
  Last week, I invited the constituents of Florida's Third 
Congressional District, the Gator Nation, to submit their nominations 
for individuals they would like to honor for their dedication to our 
communities over the last year. I received several nominations with the 
names of constituents who have gone above and beyond the call of duty, 
who put service above self, so many nominations, in fact, that we have 
pledged to continue this series throughout the year to highlight their 
great work.
  Included in this group are first responders, law enforcement 
officers, teachers, nurses, and Good Samaritans. They are the backbone 
of our communities. I am honored to be able to represent them in 
Congress and share their stories with you today.
  The first is my friend, and the only woman sheriff in the great State 
of Florida, Sheriff Michelle Cook. Sheriff Cook, in her long tenure in 
law enforcement, has walked the beat and fought against the scourge of 
the opioid epidemic and human trafficking in Clay County.
  She is also the proud mother to four foster children, who she 
lovingly brought into her own home to prevent their separation. She 
works every day to protect our community and our great county of Clay 
County. I am so grateful for her service.
  Thank you, Sheriff Cook.
  Now, much like Sheriff Cook, Sergeant Kim Miller put service above 
self as a member of the Green Cove Springs Police Department. While 
Sergeant Miller celebrated her retirement earlier this year, she has 
spent the last 15 years of her life dedicated to the children of Clay 
County and their safety and development.
  She is proud to have been the first Black female sergeant for the 
Green Cove Springs Police Department and continues to make the citizens 
of Clay County proud.
  It was always a pleasure seeing Sergeant Miller's smiling face when I 
visited the department, and I congratulate her on her retirement this 
year. Although she is not on the force any longer, her service to the 
Green Cove Springs community is remarkable. I am honored to celebrate 
her here today.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Carl).
  Mr. CARL. Mr. Speaker, what an honor to get to speak before you. This 
is a thrill.
  I rise today to honor several hometown heroes from my district who 
have made an impact on the community over the course of the year.
  First, I would like to thank my colleague from Florida, Congresswoman 
Kat Cammack, for organizing this Special Order hour.
  I also reached out to my community, and I asked for the leaders in 
our community to give us some of what they think to be hometown heroes. 
Let me just run through a few real quick.
  Last year has been tough on millions of Americans across the country 
as we battle the COVID pandemic and endure countless hardships, but I 
am proud of so many folks in south Alabama who have made our community 
a better place. Many of them are unsung heroes. I would like to take a 
moment today to honor a few of them.
  Brian Copes, manufacturing instructor for the city of Chickasaw 
School System, is a leader in the effort of developing inexpensive 
prosthetic limbs that will change many lives of amputees throughout 
Latin America.
  Students from all disciplines have been working together to create a 
real nonprofit business. Eventually, these students will travel to 
Latin America, not only to fit the amputees but also to aid the 
amputees in rehabilitation as they learn to walk and use their new 
limbs.
  Another one is Natalie Fox, assistant administrator and chief nursing 
officer for USA Physicians Group. That ``USA'' stands for University of 
South Alabama, which we are very proud of. And USA Healthcare has been 
a leading coordinator in the University of South Alabama Healthcare 
System community testing and vaccination sites for the Mobile region.
  To date, she has overseen the successful implementation of over 
26,000 COVID-19 vaccines administered since December 15, and over 
50,000 coronavirus tests performed since the pandemic began. Natalie 
has worked tirelessly to meet the high demands on the healthcare system 
for the past year, and I am incredibly thankful for her hard work and 
her dedication to the people of south Alabama.
  Jennifer Myrick of Fairhope, Alabama, has been a critical figure in 
the recovery efforts after Hurricanes Sally and Zeta, which hit the 
area. Jennifer worked through the Fairhope United Methodist Church to 
set up an independent point of distribution to hand out critical 
supplies to the public.
  She has also headed up a feeding program for those supplies and is an 
active member of the Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster through 
Baldwin County Emergency Management, where she helped fulfill many 
needs throughout the county.
  Jennifer also worked with the Fairhope Police Department to keep 
police officers, dispatchers, and correction officers fed through this 
long stretch between both of these hurricanes.
  Kathy Couey, a recreation supervisor for the city of Chickasaw, 
Alabama, goes above and beyond her duties every day in her day-to-day 
responsibilities to make sure the city is a better and healthier place 
for families to live. Her creativity is limitless, with a true 
servant's heart.

  With so many people working and learning from home over the past 
year, staying active and getting outdoors has been critical to people's 
physical and mental health. Kathy's hard work has made Chickasaw a 
better place to live and raise a family.
  Virtually no person across the country has not been impacted in some 
way by the pandemic, natural disasters, and the countless other 
challenges that we have faced. We have come a long way. Although we are 
living in difficult times, I could not be prouder than I am to be an 
American today.
  And I couldn't be more thankful for so many incredible people all 
over my district and all over the Nation who have worked hard each day, 
not for fame, not for recognition or for money, but for the betterment 
of their friends and neighbors. This is what makes America strong.

[[Page H715]]

  Mr. Speaker, I am grateful for the opportunity to take a moment today 
to recognize just a few of those unsung heroes who have made an impact 
in our community over the past year.
  Mrs. CAMMACK. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Alabama. Even 
though, the SEC Nation, we may be rivals on game day, when it comes to 
honoring our hometown heroes, we are united, and I appreciate you 
taking the time to share these stories.
  Mr. Speaker, before I yield to another one of my great colleagues, I 
want to highlight a great man, Mr. Mike Leader, from Fleming Island, 
Florida, who is an active duty physician proudly serving in the United 
States Navy.
  Mike was deployed in April 2020 to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, and 
he has been working tirelessly to save lives over the last year. His 
wife, Adriane, and his three children have remained strong and positive 
during his time away from home, recognizing his sacrifice for our 
fellow Americans.
  Mike is set to be deployed again next month to once again take up the 
fight against this pandemic, and he and his family will be in my 
thoughts and prayers as he continues the fight to end COVID-19.
  I would also like to honor Orange Park native Peggie French. Ms. 
French is what her nominators call an angel to seniors. Ms. French 
spends hours every single week scheduling vaccines for seniors in Clay 
County. She has become somewhat of an expert in the process and even 
helps to monitor the vaccine sites for cancelations to help seniors 
trying to get appointments.
  To date, she has helped over 60 senior citizens to get appointments 
for the COVID-19 vaccine in her spare time. I visited the COVID 
vaccination sites in my district a few weeks ago, where these very 
seniors that she helped were being vaccinated. I want to thank Peggie 
and those just like her for helping folks in our area.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Oklahoma (Mrs. Bice).
  Mrs. BICE of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, first, I would like to thank 
Representative Cammack for bringing this idea of honoring our hometown 
heroes to the floor. It is long overdue.
  There are so many who have made an impact in our communities over the 
last year. When I think of the countless hours our healthcare workers 
have dedicated, their time spent away from family to take care of 
others, the doctors, nurses, and first responders, we can never fully 
thank them for their dedication to our country during this difficult 
time.
  But as my team and I discussed who from Oklahoma's Fifth District has 
helped this community survive the pandemic, who worked on the ground 
with people in need, one name was mentioned over and over, and that was 
Pastor Derrick Scobey of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Oklahoma City.
  He and his band of volunteers have worked countless hours to make 
sure Oklahomans everywhere were fed, not just in the surrounding 
community but in towns and cities across the great State of Oklahoma. 
In partnership with the World Vision Organization, Pastor Scobey 
distributed more than 91,000 boxes of fresh food in the past year. That 
is 2.3 million pounds of food hand-delivered by Ebenezer Baptist Church 
and his countless volunteers throughout the State.

                              {time}  2030

  My team and I had the pleasure of assisting Pastor Scobey with a few 
of his distribution events in Oklahoma City. I was overwhelmed with the 
gratitude on the faces of those who were receiving these food boxes.
  This man right here is truly making a difference to those in need. He 
has been on the ground day in and day out making sure that more than 
150,000 Oklahomans did not go hungry during this pandemic.
  In addition to food, he made sure that those needing furnishings did 
not go without. His group distributed 2,300 pallets of furniture to the 
underserved as well. It is a monumental task that Pastor Scobey took 
on, but he saw the need in his community. He heard from pastors and 
communities from across the State with similar needs, rolled up his 
sleeves, and he got to work.
  This Nation needs more pastors like Derrick Scobey, who aren't afraid 
of the hard work of feeding our communities not just with the word of 
God on Sunday morning, but with hours of heavy lifting, sweating in the 
heat of the summer, or trying to stay warm in the subzero temperatures, 
all to make sure those who were hungry have something to eat.
  So, Mr. Speaker, I thank Pastor Scobey for being a hero to Oklahomans 
from every corner of the great State of Oklahoma.
  Mrs. CAMMACK. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from the great 
State of Oklahoma. It has been an honor so far serving with her in this 
Congress, and I expect that we will be hearing many more stories of 
great Oklahomans who are doing incredible work in our communities.
  Mr. Speaker, at this time I would like to honor a gentleman who is 
much like my husband, a hero and a firefighter. Justin Dean serves the 
Orange Park Fire Department and its city both in his capacity as a 
firefighter and as a heroic private citizen. Mr. Dean was driving home 
one afternoon recently when he noticed a car parked on the side of the 
bridge near Doctor's Lake. He pulled his vehicle over, proceeded to 
talk to the woman standing at the top of the bridge, and he offered her 
a hug. When she accepted, Firefighter Dean jumped into action and 
pulled her tightly over the rail to safety. He was awarded a 
meritorious award for his brave, lifesaving action.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank Justin.
  Mr. Speaker, Rhonda Wilson is a hero from my hometown of Gainesville, 
Florida. She wears many hats in our community. She is a middle school 
teacher, a thespian, a theater director, and a philanthropist. She 
founded the Star Center Theatre nearly two decades ago and, in the 
years since, has provided an opportunity for local children and 
families to perform and enjoy fine arts.
  A portion of all the theatre's proceeds go to Created Gainesville, a 
nonprofit committed to reaching and restoring women caught in sex 
trafficking and sexual exploitation in Gainesville. Rhonda's work is 
especially impactful to me, as I have worked to eliminate human 
trafficking from our District and our State.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Donalds).
  Mr. DONALDS. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentlewoman from 
Florida, my good friend, Congresswoman Cammack, for bringing this great 
idea to the House Chamber to honor those of us in our communities who 
have done, frankly, more than Members of Congress actually have. The 
sacrifices that they have made not only in our communities but 
throughout their lives is really something to honor, it is something to 
behold, and it is something to cherish. I am just grateful for this 
opportunity to do this on the peoples' floor this evening.
  The first hometown hero I wish to honor is Captain Wayne Ogden Smith. 
Today, we pay tribute to one of Naples' hometown heroes. Mr. Smith was 
a United States Air Force fighter pilot and a Vietnam prisoner of war. 
Captain Smith was a prisoner of war at the Hanoi Hilton for 5 years, 
alongside Senator Sam Johnson and Senator John McCain. However, he 
would never call himself a hometown hero.
  Wayne was a 1965 graduate of the United States Air Force Academy and 
would fly 90 F-4 fighter combat missions over North Vietnam and Laos. 
Captain Smith was shot down on January 18, 1968, at the age of 24. He 
survived 5 years and 2 months and was repatriated on March 15, 1973.
  Wayne's combat honors include two Silver Stars, the Legion of Merit, 
two Distinguished Flying Crosses, two Bronze ``V'' Stars, seven Air 
Medals, and the Purple Heart.
  Now retired from the business world, Wayne Smith spends his time with 
his wife helping veterans and active military around the country 
through organizations like Wreaths Across America and Naples Spirit of 
`45, a celebration honoring our World War II veterans and beyond.
  Mr. Speaker, another hometown hero from my District is Allison 
Dawson. Allison has proudly dedicated her life to educating our youth. 
Allison's career in youth education spans over 30 years, almost 20 of 
those in Lee County, Florida.
  A single mom who raised three kids, she struggled to pay bills and 
struggled to put food on the table. Despite these obstacles, Allison 
remained committed

[[Page H716]]

to her passion and her life's work: teaching and helping low-income 
students learn and grow to succeed.
  During COVID-19, like thousands of teachers across our Nation, she 
juggled virtual school and in-person instruction flawlessly, all to 
ensure her students received the very best education. She is a prime 
example of how hard all teachers across America work every single day.
  I am honored to recognize Allison Dawson today as a teacher and as a 
public servant. I thank Allison for her 30 years of service; her 
commitment to serving others; and ensuring that every child, no matter 
their race, gender and socioeconomic background, has access to a world-
class education.
  Mr. Speaker, my last hometown hero is Major Jose Martinez, BSN, RN. 
Jose Martinez, BSN and RN, is the nursing director of adult and 
pediatric emergency department at North Naples Hospital in southwest 
Florida. He has been a nurse for 22 years, and 13 of them at NCH.

  Major Jose Martinez has a 19-year military career. He has served 9 
years with the Army National Guard and 10 years with the Air Force 
Reserve.
  Major Martinez is currently a flight nurse instructor and clinical 
management flight commander in the 45th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron 
at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida. Major Martinez just returned from 
a 6-month deployment at duty station Travis Air Force Base in 
California. Major Martinez coordinated more than 50 Aeromedical 
Evacuation Westpac/Cross Country Aeromedical missions with more than 
400 aeromedical evacuation crew, critical care crew, and neonatal 
critical care members serving more than 100 patients who represent our 
U.S. military and their families.
  He has dedicated his life to serving others and has saved countless 
lives. I am honored to recognize Major Martinez today and his 
sacrifices for our Nation.
  Mr. Speaker, there are many heroes in all of our communities. These 
are just three who happen to live in my congressional district, and it 
is my honor to honor them this evening.
  Mrs. CAMMACK. Mr. Speaker, as a fellow Floridian, I look forward to 
getting to know the gentleman's hometown heroes at some point in the 
near future. I thank the gentleman for joining me here on the floor of 
the people's House to honor the hometown heroes who make up the great 
State of Florida.
  Last, but certainly not least, I would like to recognize my friend 
and the great sheriff of Marion County, Sheriff Billy Woods. I have 
known Billy for nearly a decade, and in that time, I have seen his 
passion for helping people. I am proud to have worked with Sheriff 
Woods on combating human trafficking in the State of Florida, as well 
as taking on criminal drug traffickers and supporting the rights of 
lawful gun owners. I am also proud to recognize his tireless efforts 
tonight to protect and serve our ever-growing community in Marion 
County. I know Billy to be a man of integrity, grit, and honesty. He is 
a tremendous defender of freedom and security, and I am proud to call 
him and his wife, Samantha, dear friends.
  I am deeply grateful for all of the people who have spoken here 
today. Their work and their efforts to make my district and its many 
communities a better place to live and raise a family do not go 
unnoticed. They make me proud to be an American and the Representative 
from Florida's Third Congressional District. I chose to celebrate these 
hometown heroes today to honor their work and celebrate their passion 
for helping others. I challenge my constituents and all Americans to 
take stock of the everyday heroes all around us and thank them for what 
they do.
  Whether it is working as a frontline healthcare worker in a local 
clinic, a law enforcement officer supporting children, librarians 
assisting students with virtual learning, or a delivery worker ensuring 
that we all get our critical packages on time, they are all--and there 
are so many more out there--extraordinary Americans who continue to put 
duty above all else.
  I thank the nominees and the nominators of today's heroes. Again, I 
look forward to continuing this yearlong series of honoring our 
hometown heroes, and I look forward to hearing more of my colleagues' 
stories from their hometown heroes.
  Mr. Speaker, I am grateful for the opportunity here tonight to honor 
these heroes, and I yield back the balance of my time.

                          ____________________