[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 8372]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




          EDWARD EARNEST FOSTER: FIERCE ADVOCATE FOR VETERANS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JANE HARMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 8, 2008

  Ms. HARMAN. Madam Speaker, representing the 36th district of 
California since 1992 has given me the opportunity to meet many 
veterans and learn their stories. One special veteran and friend, Ed 
Foster, has an incredible story--one I would like to share with my 
colleagues on the eve of his retirement from the Torrance Job Service 
Office.
  Edward Earnest Foster enlisted in the Army at age 19, and served as a 
medic in the Korean war. As a medic, soldier and veteran, he has 
touched the lives of countless individuals. He has advanced the cause 
of veteran's rights throughout the South Bay, and I am not alone in 
expressing enormous gratitude for all he has done.
  Ed received nine medals on his tours of duty in Korea, including a 
Purple Heart and the Bronze Star with a ``V'' for valor. With the same 
strength of character that got him those medals, he has fought on 
behalf of all veterans.
  Locally, Ed's contributions have been invaluable. In his post at the 
State Employment Development Department's Torrance office, he has 
worked to make sure area veterans find the work and dignity they 
deserve.
  Perhaps his most notable and lasting initiative is the ``Visit a 
Vet'' program, which promotes visits with veterans at VA hospitals to 
let them know they are not forgotten and thank them for their service. 
We should all heed his call of ``let us not just think of our veterans 
on holidays but do it all year long.''
  Ed Foster is a tireless advocate for veterans everywhere, and a 
wonderfully dedicated man. He represents, to me, what it means to serve 
one's country for a lifetime. Ed retires this month at the young age of 
76. On behalf of the entire community, I say thank you, on behalf of a 
grateful nation.

                          ____________________