[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 10]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 12923]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO CHRISTY KURIATNYK

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. LYNN A. WESTMORELAND

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 19, 2009

  Mr. WESTMORELAND. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to 
Christy Kuriatnyk, named the 2009 Navy Spouse of the Year by Military 
Spouse Magazine and USAA.
  We often praise our men and women in uniform who put their lives on 
the line every day for our freedom and our security. We're aware of the 
debt we owe to them but perhaps neglect the unsung heroes they leave 
behind on the home front: the spouses and children of our troops.
  From among these great Americans, Kuriatnyk has gained singular 
acclaim for her outstanding contributions to her community above and 
beyond her duties as a military spouse, mother of three and employee of 
the Columbus Health Department.
  Kuriatnyk holds down the fort in Ellerslie, GA, while her husband, 
Lt. Cmdr. Alex Kuriatnyk, is stationed at the Gulfport, MS, 
Construction Battalion Center. He is the operations officer there.
  Though married to a Navy man, Kuriatnyk often works on behalf of Army 
families stationed at nearby Fort Benning. She's an active volunteer 
for Operation Homefront and she's helped organize baby showers for Army 
spouses and ``My Mommy/Daddy's Deployment Party'' for the children of 
Fort Benning soldiers who have gone overseas. As the daughter of a 
Korean War vet, she has a special bond with these children and she 
knows the anxiety they feel when their parents are deployed.
  Kuriatnyk's work on behalf of children has benefited all of Georgia, 
not just her fellow military families. She's created programs that have 
advanced the causes of booster seat use, lead-free toys and skateboard 
safety.
  I'm proud to have this great patriot as a constituent in Georgia's 
3rd Congressional District. I call on my colleagues in the House to 
join me in congratulating Christy Kuriatnyk on attaining this honor and 
in thanking her for all of the time and energy she devotes to our 
beloved military families. She'll represent military families with 
distinction as the 2009 Navy Spouse of the Year.

                          ____________________