[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 95 (Tuesday, June 4, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E589]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING THE LOSS OF A GREAT COMMUNITY LEADER AND OUTSTANDING LIFE 
                 OF SGT. STEPHEN BURDICK ``STEVE'' HAND

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. TROY A. CARTER

                              of louisiana

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 4, 2024

  Mr. CARTER of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate an 
outstanding gentleman and blessing to the City of New Orleans, Sgt. 
Stephen Burdick ``Steve'' Hand. He was born in Bronxville, New York on 
July 21, 1941, to Faith Seiple Hand and Edward Sayer Hand, Sr, and grew 
up in Scarsdale, New York. Mr. Hand was deeply committed to our beloved 
city. He served as a leader in the initiative to preserve and restore 
New Orleans through his work at the Vieux Carre Commission, and the 
French Market Corp during the 1980s and 1990s. After living a full life 
dedicated to serving others, Steve (82 years old) passed away on 
January 8, 2024.
  Steve was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1963. His training took place 
in Fort Benning, Georgia, with the 17th Artillery 2nd Infantry Division 
under Battery C 7th Battalion (``Garry Owen''). He served one tour of 
duty in 1965 to Vietnam in which he was stationed at An Khe with the 
3rd Brigade 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile). Mr. Hand earned the title 
of Sergeant before being honorably discharged from the Army.
  Upon returning to the United States, Steve returned to his studies 
and ultimately graduated from Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine with 
a bachelor's degree in economics. After graduating, Steve began his 
career, working in Communications and Public Service. He fondly 
reflected on his experience working on Capitol Hill as a Legislative 
Assistant and Press Secretary to Senators Winston L. Prouty of Vermont 
and Edward Brooke of Massachusetts, the first popularly elected Black 
senator. He went on to earn a master's degree in Landscape Architecture 
at LSU in 1982, where he developed an appreciation for the state of 
Louisiana and the Gulf Coast. At LSU, he wrote his thesis, about the 
historical, cultural, and political influences that have contributed to 
the development of the gardens and courtyards within the French 
Quarter. This thesis was instrumental in his future experiences in New 
Orleans, where he was dedicated to preserving, enriching, and educating 
others about the local landscaping and architecture that makes our city 
so special.
  As a hardworking and dedicated Director of the Vieux Carre 
Commission, Steve used his expertise in the French Quarter's 
architectural landscape to preserve the historical and cultural 
character of New Orleans's oldest neighborhoods. Among his many 
accomplishments in this role, Steve was able to have the golden 
equestrian statue of Joan of Arc, relocated at Place de France. 
Additionally, he worked tirelessly alongside the City Council and 
Mayor's office to ensure that the integrity of this neighborhood and 
the needs of its residents were protected, pioneering an effort to keep 
the French Quarter safe and clean. Mr. Hand also served the New Orleans 
community as the Executive Director of the French Market Corp. in 1994, 
through which he supported the effort to revitalize and renovate the 
French Market, leading this historical landmark to flourish in our 
city's economy.
  Steve Hand's legacy will continue to live on through the spirit of 
this city, which he loved so dearly. It will live on through all of the 
people, the long-lasting friendships that he made and cultivated, and 
those whose lives he touched around the Nation. Most importantly, Steve 
Hand's legacy will live on through his dear, loving family: Bear, his 
goldendoodle; his brother Edward S. Hand and sister-in-law Susan O. 
Hand; three nieces Samantha Fratus, Lindsley Rice, and Bailey Jeffrey 
and their families around the world. Stephen Burdick Hand is an 
inspiration to all those who dedicate their lives to serving their 
community. I, too, hope to carry his legacy with me as I continue to 
serve the people of Louisiana.

                          ____________________