[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 14231]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            TRIBUTE TO COMMANDER CHRISTOPHER A. RHODEN, USN

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. C.W. BILL YOUNG

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 24, 2004

  Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and pay 
tribute to an outstanding Naval Officer, Commander Chris Rhoden, to 
recognize his service to our Nation and the Navy as he leaves the 
Pentagon to pursue his first love, commanding a Naval ship.
  On behalf of my colleagues in the House and on the Appropriations 
Committee, I want to take this opportunity to thank him for his 
distinguished and dedicated service.
  It was through his assignment with the Navy's Appropriations Liaison 
office that I first came to know Commander Rhoden. In this capacity, he 
served as an invaluable liaison for the Secretary of the Navy and the 
Chief of Naval Operations to me, the members of my committee, and our 
staff.
  In addition to providing timely and accurate information on budget 
matters, Commander Rhoden also has escorted me and other Members of 
Congress on several occasions as we traveled both home and abroad to 
review military operations and confirm the health and welfare of our 
troops. He provided special insight on matters of national security, 
naval shipbuilding, and the direct relationship between the two. His 
candor, intelligence, and steadfast devotion to duty, was always very 
much appreciated and he was an invaluable asset to me during 
deliberations regarding funding programs for our armed forces. His 
perspective on the needs of the Nation with respect to our sea services 
provided me with the clarity and detail I needed to make important 
decisions regarding appropriations for the Department of Defense.
  In addition to the respect I have for the work Commander Rhoden did 
in representing the Navy, I also thank him for the calm demeanor and 
sense of humor he shared with us all. Chris has become a mentor and 
friend to me and to my family, and for that I will always be grateful. 
It is this same sense of purpose and professionalism that I am 
confident will make Commander Rhoden a tremendous role model for those 
who serve under his command.
  Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to recognize Commander Rhoden for his 
distinguished service to our nation. My wife Beverly and I have the 
highest respect for those who serve in uniform, and I appreciate and 
honor all the men and women who have served, and continue to serve, in 
defense of freedom. Recalling our national anthem, to our veterans and 
Armed Forces, I say, we would not be ``the land of the free'' were we 
not also the ``home of the brave.''
  Mr. Speaker, My colleagues and I want to express our thanks and 
appreciation for the special contribution Commander Rhoden has made to 
the United States Navy. We wish him and his family continued success 
and the traditional naval wish of ``Fair winds and Following seas'' as 
he closes out his service to the Congress and continues toward the 
pinnacle of Naval service, command at sea of a United States warship.

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