[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 8]
[Senate]
[Page 11655]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     RETIREMENT OF GEORGE W. MULLEN

  Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I have sought recognition to honor George 
W. Mullen of Pennsylvania, who will step down as State Adjutant of the 
Pennsylvania Department of Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United 
States this June. George's retirement will mark the end of a 
distinguished 59 year career of service to our military, our veterans 
community, and our Nation.
  George W. Mullen joined the United States Navy in 1943 at the age of 
17 and served during World War II aboard the merchant ship SS Ben Holt 
and the destroyer USS Cotton in both the Atlantic and Pacific Theatres. 
While on active duty aboard the Holt, his ship arrived 2 days after the 
invasion of Normandy, France, to help supply Allied forces in the 
battle against Germany. His duty on the Cotton included helping rescue 
a downed American pilot and supporting the invasion of Okinawa.
  George worked at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Coatesville 
for 35 years before becoming the Pennsylvania Veterans of Foreign Wars 
State Adjutant in 1983. As a member of the Pennsylvania War Veterans 
Council and the Pennsylvania State Veterans Commission, he has been a 
familiar face to governors and many State and Federal legislators who 
have sought his guidance.
  Mr. Mullen, who lives in Parkesburg, has touched many lives and that 
has not gone unnoticed. He has been honored at the local, State and 
national level for his many contributions. While humble in service to 
others, George has always stood for what is right and remains a staunch 
supporter of our troops.
  His will be hard shoes to fill, and he will be missed. We wish George 
and his wife Dawn well in future endeavors, and thank him for his 
dedication to duty, hard work, and professionalism.

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