[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 50 (Monday, March 21, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1268-S1269]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            MORNING BUSINESS

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                     REMEMBERING GARRY J. AUGUSTINE

  Mr. TESTER. Mr. President, today I wish to honor the life and service 
of a decorated veteran, fierce advocate, and great man, Garry 
Augustine.
  As the executive director of the Disabled American Veterans, DAV, 
from 2013 to 2018 and a 50-year life member, Garry helped shape the 
legislative landscape for disabled veterans and their families 
nationwide by advocating before Congress, the White House, and 
Department of Veterans Affairs.
  While Garry is no longer with us, his legacy lives on. On behalf of 
myself, Congress and my fellow Americans, I would like to extend our 
deepest gratitude for his life and service to this Nation.
  A native son of Cleveland, OH, Garry enlisted in the U.S. Army in 
August 1969. As a member of the 198th Infantry Brigade in South 
Vietnam, he served on the Batangan Peninsula. During a combat patrol 
operation on April 9, 1970, he was severely wounded by a land mine 
explosion.
  After 18 months and multiple surgeries at Walter Reed Medical Army 
Hospital, Garry returned home to Cleveland, where he continued physical 
rehabilitation.
  Following his time in uniform, Garry's commitment to serving others 
never faded. In 1978, Garry went on to earn a bachelor's degree with 
honors from Ohio University and a master's degree in sociology from 
Cleveland State University in 1983. That same year, he became a life 
member of DAV Chapter 42 in Mentor, OH.
  In Mentor, he served in various positions, including chapter 
commander and adjutant, and on statewide committees, as well as 
director of service for the DAV Department of Ohio. He was also 
selected as one of the Outstanding Young Men of America in 1989.
  Along the way, Garry met and married his loving wife Kelly Lambing 
and raised two children, Chelsea and Kyle. He was rightfully proud of 
them, and spoke of them often.
  He began his tenure with DAV in 1988 as a hospital service 
coordinator for the Department of Ohio at the Cleveland Wade Park VA 
Hospital. That same year, he joined DAV's professional staff as a 
national service officer apprentice and went on to serve as assistant 
supervisor and supervisor at the national service office in Cleveland.
  Eventually, Garry left this role to help lead DAV's efforts 
nationwide. He was appointed to assistant national service director at 
DAV's Washington headquarters in 2002 and then deputy national service 
director in 2004 and national service director in 2010.
  He was named as Washington headquarters executive director in 2013, 
where he was tasked with overseeing DAV's service and legislative 
programs and leading DAV's advocacy efforts on behalf of more than 1 
million DAV members.
  As executive director of DAV, Garry was in charge of an organization 
that has always been at the forefront of advocating for veterans and 
securing the resources, healthcare, and benefits veterans have earned. 
In the position, he was a tireless and successful advocate for VA 
healthcare reform, expanding caregiver benefits, securing critical 
resources for veterans' initiatives, modernizing the disability appeals 
system, and improving VA care and services for women veterans.
  As the top Democrat on the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee and 
Committee member since 2007, it was a great honor of mine to work with 
Garry and DAV on countless important pieces of legislation like the 
Deborah Sampson Act, the Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization 
Act, and the VA MISSION Act.
  These bipartisan efforts, many of which were signed into law, serve 
as a testament to Garry's dedication and leadership on behalf of all 
veterans. Future generations of veterans will look at these bipartisan 
reforms and feel the reach of his mission to serve veterans in their 
communities.
  Garry's enduring legacy lives on at DAV, which--thanks to his 
leadership--continues to be a cornerstone for communities across the 
Nation.
  After three decades of service to DAV, Garry retired as executive 
director on December 17, 2018, and moved to Maryland's Eastern Shore. 
Even in his retirement, he continued to use his experience to serve as 
a strategic adviser on veterans' healthcare technology.
  On March 14, 2022, Garry passed away in Washington, DC at the age of 
71 years old. He is survived by his wife Kelly, daughter Chelsea, son 
Kyle, and grandson Austin, and will be laid to rest at Arlington 
National Cemetery.
  It is my honor to recognize Garry's lifetime of service as a soldier, 
veteran, and leader of DAV--but also as a loving husband and father. On 
behalf of myself and a grateful nation, I extend my

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greatest appreciation for Garry's enduring sacrifices, service, and 
advocacy on behalf of all veterans. His work will be felt by veterans 
nationwide for years to come, and he will be sorely missed.

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