[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 6243]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            RETIREMENT OF SERGEANT MAJOR MICHAEL DUDLEY, USA

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. SOLOMON P. ORTIZ

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 26, 2006

  Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, I hope the House will join me today to pay 
tribute to an exceptional patriot and Non-Commissioned Officer in the 
United States Army, Sergeant Major Michael Roy Dudley, upon his 
retirement from active military service.
  Sergeant Major Dudley's remarkable career spans over 31 years in the 
United States Army culminating with his appointment to Principal 
Announcer of The United States Army Band, ``Pershing's Own'' and Non-
commissioned Officer-in-Charge of the United States Army Chorale.
  He was also a producer, performer and announcer for numerous 
inaugural events for Presidents Carter, Reagan, G.H.W. Bush and 
Clinton. He was the announcer for the nationally televised September 11 
Pentagon Memorial Services on September 11, 2002; internment of the 
Unknown Soldier from Viet Nam at Arlington National Cemetery; narrative 
soloist with the Boston Pops Orchestra and the Penn Woods Festival 
Orchestra at Penn State University for the 2000 National Governors' 
Conference performing Aaron Copland's ``A Lincoln Portrait.''
  He has been the featured announcer and soloist numerous times for The 
United States Army Band's concerts at Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall 
in New York City from 1993 to the present. Sergeant Major Dudley's 
talent and professionalism has been instrumental in the flawless 
performance of these international events.
  Other significant performances by Sergeant Major Dudley include: The 
White House performance for the signing of the peace treaty between 
Egypt and Israel; featured vocal soloist for Gerald Ford and Friends 
Gala in Vail, Colorado; White House State Dinners and Christmas 
receptions (1975-present); numerous performances for the Kennedy Center 
Honors Program and the July 4, 1976 Bicentennial Concert of the United 
States with Johnny Cash on the grounds of the Washington Monument.
  Sergeant Major Dudley has truly represented The United States Army 
and The United States of America in an exemplary manner which was 
quintessential to the overwhelming success of these very important 
events in the history of our nation. This soldier is the recipient of 
the United States Armed Forces Legion of Merit award for exceptionally 
meritorious conduct in his performance of outstanding service to this 
country.
  He has established a renowned reputation both nationally and globally 
as a musical ambassador of goodwill. I ask my colleagues to join me 
today to thank Sergeant Major Dudley, his wife, Mary Lou, and his 
entire family for the commitment, sacrifice, and contribution that they 
have made throughout his honorable military career.

                          ____________________