[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 72 (Friday, April 26, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E385-E386]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        RECOGNIZING RON FLAVILLE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GUS M. BILIRAKIS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, April 26, 2024

  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the 
unique contributions of one of my constituents, Ron Flaville. After 
growing up in a military family, Ron joined the Marine Corps after high 
school where he served as a Communications Center Operator, from 1996-
2000. In 2001, he joined the Pennsylvania Army National Guard deploying 
to Iraq in 2004. Two years later enlisted in the Army. Serving on 
active duty, he deployed to Iraq again in 2009. Medically retired in 
2013, Ron moved to Florida with his wife and children and soon began to 
experience severe struggles with PTSD. Prescribed antipsychotic 
medications did little to alleviate his anxiety; mood swings and 
volatility . . . and the severity of his symptoms made his family feel 
unsafe. In 2013 Ron and his wife, Kellie, met Mary Peter, a nationally 
known Certified Dog Trainer (CDT) and founder of K9 Partners for 
Patriots. Under Mary's tutelage, Ron began training his German 
Shepherd, Sophia, to become a PTSD service dog. Working side by side 
with Mary as the first Veteran in K9P4P, he has since climbed the ranks 
from Certified Trainer to Veteran Liaison, to Treasurer; and was 
appointed Chief Executive Officer for K9P4P in 2019. Consideration of 
Ron's accomplishments is best appreciated by Veterans battling their 
own demons. They know PTSD has no cure and its `triggers' are often 
unforeseeable. Trusting his training and his K9 partner, Ron found his 
path forward and was able to repair relationships and re-connect with 
his wife and children. With each responsibility more demanding than the 
previous one, the challenges he tackled at K9 Partners for Patriots 
showed each Veteran in the program they can do it; they've got reason 
to hope and to believe in better days ahead.
  It is clear that Mr. Flaville has made a profoundly positive impact 
on our community and on the lives of countless people he has worked 
with in the fight against the horrific crime of human trafficking. I am 
grateful for his service.

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