[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 91 (Thursday, May 29, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E481-E482]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        HONORING JON ROE'S CONTRIBUTIONS TO VERNON, CONNECTICUT

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOE COURTNEY

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 29, 2025

  Mr. COURTNEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to enthusiastically honor Mr. 
Jon Roe, a pillar of eastern Connecticut, for his lasting contributions 
to the town of Vernon, Connecticut and the Tankerhoosen River Valley. 
His more than six decades as a resident of Vernon have been filled with 
selfless advocacy and dedication to the region that will be long 
remembered and admired for generations to come. A few weeks ago, on 
April 24, 2025, Jon was recognized for his selfless volunteer 
contributions, when he was awarded the Marie Herbst Memorial Award. 
This award, named after a longtime Mayor and State Senator for Vernon, 
is reserved for persons who demonstrate outstanding service and 
dedication to the community.
  Jon's journey to this milestone began in the small town he grew up 
in, in northern New Jersey, where his family had lived for 200 years, 
which taught Jon the value of small-town institutions. After graduating 
from Pennsylvania State University in 1961 with a degree in 
engineering, Jon found his home in Connecticut where he worked at Pratt 
& Whitney Aircraft, a world-renowned engine manufacturer that has 
powered planes and jets for 100 years. After marrying the love of his 
life, Janet, in 1963 they settled in Vernon's Tankerhoosen River Valley 
where they have built and lived their lives for the past 62 years.

[[Page E482]]

  Jon always knew he could make a difference when he put his mind to 
something. He established a deep interest in natural health and 
spirituality in the 1980s. After 32 years of highly skilled work for 
Pratt & Whitney, Jon retired in 1993. He took this opportunity to 
embrace new opportunities, publishing a magazine and helping holistic 
practitioners move into the mainstream.
  Jon built on his interest in holistic health, working with the Vernon 
Youth Services Bureau to bring awareness to the benefits of holistic 
medicine to the wider Vernon community in the early 2000s. In 2004, Jon 
was instrumental in the creation of the Greater Vernon Holistic 
Healthfest, which hosted their 12th annual festival this March.
  Jon has been a dedicated member of Vernon, always longing to learn 
more about the place he has called home for so many years. After 
meeting people passionate about protecting the Tankerhoosen Valley, Jon 
took it upon himself to learn all he could about the area and its 
people. The Tankerhoosen Valley is located in Vernon and Tolland, 
Connecticut and is one of the state's Officially Designated Greenways. 
The area has a rich environmental history that Jon knew he needed to 
share with others living in and visiting the Valley. He created a 
website and newsletter to help share what he learned with those around 
him. Working with volunteer nonprofits, Jon was also instrumental in 
creating the Vernon Volunteers' Collaborative (VVC) in 2014, a group 
that serves to preserve the community of Vernon for residents.
  Finding his niche in research and sharing information, Jon has 
dedicated the past 15 years to writing and giving talks about the 
Tankerhoosen Valley and the early families that lived there. His 
extensive research and down to earth speaking style, infused with a 
warm sense of humor, made him a favorite at all his speaking 
engagements. He recently published a book on Vernon's first 90 years 
and has several other books planned to continue telling the rich story 
of northeastern Connecticut history.
  Mr. Speaker, Jon Roe has been an exceptional leader in eastern 
Connecticut throughout his life. I count myself lucky to know leaders 
like Jon, working so hard to preserve our history for future 
generations. Jon's commitment to the corner of eastern Connecticut he 
and his children and grandchildren have called home for decades is 
evident in his relentless service to the community. His contributions 
and tireless work will continue to be felt in Vernon and the northeast 
region.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to please join me in congratulating 
Jon on his award and honoring his works.

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