[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 15]
[Senate]
[Page 20937]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              HONORING THE PUBLIC SERVICE OF GALE REINERS

 Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, I rise today to congratulate Mr. 
Gale Reiners for his 35 years of service to the Department of Veterans' 
Affairs. When he retires later this month, Mr. Reiners will have served 
his country for almost 40 years, both in the military and through his 
public service on behalf of our Nation's veterans.
  During his tenure at the Regional VA Office in Sioux Falls, Gale 
provided important counsel and advice to veterans, family members, VA 
officials, veterans' service officers, and congressional members and 
their staff on a range of issues. Throughout that time, he has 
witnessed many changes in the VA, and has been diligent in assisting 
veterans with their questions, needs and issues. He has helped educate 
all those concerned about the ever-changing scope of the veterans' 
benefits program.
  Gale wanted to retire 18 months ago but was persuaded to continue his 
duties at the VA. At the time he announced his retirement, the VA 
regional offices in North Dakota and South Dakota were working to 
combine various veterans' services. Gale's experience and knowledge of 
those programs proved invaluable during the transition period.
  Mr. Reiners is a man of passion and integrity who takes his 
responsibility to South Dakota veterans very seriously. It will be 
difficult to find someone more knowledgeable than Mr. Reiners on the 
wide array of benefit and resource programs available to veterans. My 
staff has worked with Gale and his colleagues at the regional office in 
Sioux Falls on numerous issues impacting veterans and their families. 
Gale always addressed each inquiry with professionalism. I commend his 
dedication and commitment to making sure every veteran's case or 
question was always handled in a timely manner.
  The State of South Dakota will miss Gale Reiners' leadership. After 
35 years of service, Mr Reiners will be spending more time with his 
wife Patty, and their 4 children. It is with great honor that I share 
his impressive accomplishments with my colleagues, and I thank him for 
his service to this Nation and its veterans.

                          ____________________