[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 8741]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      PAYING TRIBUTE TO MIKE BLOSS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. SCOTT McINNIS

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 6, 2004

  Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, it is with a sad heart that I rise to pay 
tribute to the passing of a selfless servant from my district. Mike 
Bloss, a native of Winter Park, Colorado, was recently killed while 
serving our country in Iraq as a contract security specialist. A 
beloved figure in his community, Mike dedicated his efforts to teaching 
students with disabilities how to ski and mountain bike. As his family 
and community mourn his passing, I believe it appropriate to bring his 
contributions to his community, state, and country to the attention of 
this body of Congress and this nation.
   Mike was a retired Welsh special forces officer who began as a 
volunteer at the National Sports Center for the Disabled in Winter 
Park. As he gained more experience through various instruction 
certification programs, he turned the volunteering opportunity into a 
seasonal job. Mike was a fond employee of the organization who 
demonstrated great understanding for the needs of skiers with 
disabilities, having suffered a foot injury himself from a fall he took 
while he was in the military. As an additional source of income and for 
the chance of an adventure, Mike took on contract jobs with a Virginia 
firm that specialized in high-risk private security.
  Mr. Speaker, Mike Bloss was a dedicated man who selflessly served his 
community and country, and I am honored to recognize his sacrifice 
before this body of Congress and this nation. His lifetime of service 
is an incredible model for America's youth. My thoughts and prayers go 
out to his family during this difficult time of bereavement.

                          ____________________