[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 165 (Friday, November 8, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1118-E1119]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING THE RECIPIENTS OF TEXAS' 26TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT VETERAN
COMMENDATION
______
HON. MICHAEL C. BURGESS
of texas
in the house of representatives
Friday, November 8, 2024
Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recall and recognize the
recipients of a special annual salute to honor local Veterans of the
26th Congressional District of Texas. Starting in 2005, I have had the
privilege of honoring distinguished Veterans of my district with Texas'
26th Congressional District Veteran Commendation.
Our nation's Veterans have selflessly and honorably served our
country and preserved our freedoms. It is because of their service that
we enjoy all the liberties we are afforded. These brave men and women
deserve our thanks and praise.
I am grateful to have had the opportunity to publicly recognize
eighty-six Veterans over the past two decades and honor their service
through the presentation of the Congressional Veteran Commendation
(CVC) at the annual ``Salute Our Veterans'' luncheon sponsored by the
Highland Village Business Association (HVBA) and the City of Highland
Village, Texas.
At this patriotic event each year, in addition to the announcement of
the CVC recipients, each Veteran in attendance is afforded the
opportunity to give their name and branch of service along with a
highlight of their military service. With an annual attendance of over
250, the HVBA graciously covers the cost of the luncheon for attending
Veterans and their guest.
As I retire from the U.S. House of Representatives, allow me to
announce the five recipients of the 2024 Congressional Veteran
Commendation and add their names to the illustrious list of prior
recipients.
2024
Thomas Balmer (Sergeant--U.S. Army), Carrollton
Kasey Brown (Sergeant--U.S. Marine Corps), Justin
Frank Dixon (Corporal--U.S. Marine Corps), Flower Mound
Christopher Garner (Specialist--U.S. Army National Guard),
Gainesville
John Miller (Captain--U.S. Army), Frisco
2023
Mary Garcia (Major--U.S. Air Force) of Lewisville
Timothy Qualls (Staff Sergeant--U.S. Air Force) of Savannah
David Seals, Jr. (Captain--U.S. Army) of Frisco
Melvin Sumrall (Corporal--U.S. Marine Corps) of Denton
2022
James Brown (U.S. Marine Corps--Corporal), Sanger
Jere Delano (U.S. Air Force--SSGT), Denton
Lena Jackson-Lynch (U.S. Air Force--MSGT), Denton
Daniel Joseph (U.S. Army--Corporal), Lake Dallas
John Mulholland II (U.S. Navy--Petty Officer 2nd Class),
Justin
2021
Carolyn Bradford (Specialist--U.S. Army), North Richland
Hills
Richard Crossley, Jr. (Lt. Col.--U.S. Army), Flower Mound
Karl Monger (Captain--U.S. Army), Trophy Club
Michael Shasteen (Petty Officer Fourth Class--U.S. Navy),
Frisco
Ron Trees (Lt. Col.--U.S. Air Force), Little Elm
2020
Paul Bastaich (Senior Master Sergeant--U.S. Air Force), Oak
Point
Richard Cook (Lieutenant--U.S. Navy), Double Oak
Jacob Schick (Corporal--U.S. Marine Corps), Frisco
Dennis Sheridan (Captain--U.S. Army), Trophy Club
Danny Weakley (Master Sergeant--U.S. Army), Little Elm
2019
Sharon Balsley (Lt. Colonel--U.S. Army), Corinth
Carlos Gallardo (Captain--U.S. Air Force), Frisco
Tom Kim (Lt. Commander--U.S. Navy), Highland Village
Robert Kohankie II (Lt. Commander--U.S. Navy), Flower Mound
James Trombley (Sergeant--U.S. Marine Corps), Frisco
2018
Virgil Aldag (Specialist 4th Class--U.S. Army), Denton
Lewis Duckwall II (Gunnery Sergeant--U.S. Marine Corps),
Lake Dallas
Robert Lessard (Sergeant First Class--U.S. Army), Aubrey
Christopher Martin (Colonel--U.S. Army), Argyle
Gustav Wittschack (Sergeant First Class--U.S. Army), Cross
Roads
2017
Paul Farrar (Staff Sergeant--U.S. Army), Denton
Donald Graves (Corporal--U.S. Marine Corps), Fort Worth
Paul Perez Jr. (Master Sergeant--U.S. Air Force), Flower
Mound
Donald Phillips (Chief Petty Officer--U.S. Navy), Denton
Johnnie Yellock II (Staff Sergeant--U.S. Air Force),
Lantana
2016
Roberta DuTeil (Lieutenant Junior Grade--U.S. Navy),
Bartonville
William ``Bill'' Lawrence (Colonel--U.S. Air Force),
Highland Village
Virginia ``Ginger'' Simonson (Lieutenant Colonel--U.S.
Army), Highland Village
Clinton Turner (Corporal--U.S. Army), Denton
Charles ``Chuck'' Wright (1st Lieutenant--U.S. Marine
Corps), Frisco
2015
Jack Bailey (Major--U.S. Army/Commander--U.S. Navy), Flower
Mound
Forrest Beadle (Captain--U.S. Army), Denton
Doug Brown (Chief Warrant Officer--U.S. Army), Flower Mound
Andre ``Frenchy'' Rheault (Master Sergeant--U.S. Air
Force), Denton
Gary Steele (Senior Master Sergeant--U.S. Air Force),
Denton
2014
Charles Correll (Colonel--U.S. Air Force), Denton
Peter Lane (Colonel--U.S. Air Force), Denton
Jack Milligan (Lieutenant Colonel--U.S. Army), Highland
Village
Pat Smith (Colonel--U.S. Air Force), Denton
William Splichal (Chief Warrant Officer 4--U.S. Army),
Trophy Club
[[Page E1119]]
2013
Gilbert Brown (Sergeant--U.S. Army), Lewisville
Jerry Galler (Storekeeper 3rd Class--U.S. Navy), Highland
Village
James Rosengren (Major--U.S. Army), Flower Mound
2012
Robert Baird (Lieutenant Colonel--U.S. Army), Lantana
Victor Durrance (Sergeant--U.S. Army Air Force),
Gainesville
Andrew Fortunato (Lieutenant Colonel--U.S. Marine Corps),
Keller
Joe Gray (Colonel--U.S. Army), North Richland Hills
Mugg Pawless (Private First Class--U.S. Army), Gainesville
2011
Gary Alexander (Corporal--U.S. Marine Corps), Gainesville
Julius Fambry (lst Sergeant--U.S. Army), The Colony
Donald Langa (Lieutenant Commander--U.S. Navy), Denton
Joe M. Leonard, Jr. (Captain--U.S. Army), Gainesville
Leroy M. Williamson, Sr. (1st Lieutenant--U.S. Army/Air
Force), Denton
2010
Major Lee Roy Keith, (U.S. Marine Corps), Denton
Sergeant Arlen Ray Mayfield, Jr., (U.S. Army), Lewisville
Master Sergeant Guy Northrup, (U.S. Marine Corps),
Lewisville
Colonel Larry Patterson, (U.S. Army), Highland Village
Major Richard Stewart, (U.S. Army/U.S. Air Force), Denton
2009
Corporal Arthur F. Berg (U.S. Army), Lewisville
Colonel Ernest L. Isbell (U.S. Army, Ret.), Highland
Village
Captain Hank Scheible (U.S. Air Force, Ret.), Denton
2008
Staff Sergeant Mark H. Graunke, Jr. (U.S. Marine Corps),
Denton
Commander Robert Heid (U.S. Navy, Ret.), Flower Mound
Sergeant Donald W. Pettigrew (U.S. Marine Corps),
Gainesville
Colonel Walter W. Pine (U.S. Army/U.S. Air Force, Ret.),
Keller
Major Earl L. Russell, III (U.S. Army/Army Reserve, Ret.),
Gainesville
2007
Lt. Col. Walter Dyer (U.S. Air Force, Ret.), Highland
Village
Col Susanne Hechinger (U.S. Air Force, TX ANG, Ret.),
Flower Mound
Col James P. Mariades (U.S. Marine Corps, Ret.), Copper
Canyon
Lt. Col. Edward ``Red'' Weir (U.S. Air Corps/Air Forces,
U.S. Air Force, Ret.), Denton
Capt William B. Springfield (U.S. Marine Corps, Ret.),
Flower Mound
2006
Sgt. Maj. Thomas Blagg (U.S. Marine Corps, Ret.), Denton
Mr. Woodrow Wilson Burch, Jr., (U.S. Army/U.S. Air Force),
Denton
Lt. Col. Ivan N. Glasscock (U.S. Air Force, Ret.), Denton
2005
Mr. Johnnie Bulen (U.S. Army), Lewisville
Lt. Gen. Charles R. Hamm, (U.S. Air Force, Ret.), Argyle
Mr. Reby Cary (Radioman First Class--U.S. Coast Guard),
Fort Worth
____________________