[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 16788]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING LT. COLONEL CHARLIE PARNELL

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOHN T. SALAZAR

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 25, 2009

  Mr. SALAZAR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an unsung 
hero from Southwest Colorado; Lt. Colonel Charlie Parnell of Durango. 
Charlie Parnell has selflessly and tirelessly been serving the veterans 
of Southwest Colorado for many years and it is time that he is 
recognized for this service.
  In 1988, Lt. Colonel Parnell retired from the United States Air Force 
after 26 years of honorable service, including tours of duty in 
Germany, Thailand, Vietnam, Korea, Turkey and Saudi Arabia. He is the 
proud recipient of the Bronze Star.
  After struggling for 15 years to receive the disability benefits he 
had earned from the Department of Veterans Affairs, Lt. Colonel Parnell 
dedicated himself to helping his fellow veterans wade through the 
challenging VA benefits system so they too would receive the 
compensation they had earned. Since then, he has helped over 1000 
veterans receive their benefits, and has done so completely at his own 
expense.
  It is this type of above the call-of-duty service that makes this 
nation great. And it is this kind of service that deserves all of our 
recognition. When asked why he does what he does for his fellow 
disabled veterans, Lt. Colonel Parnell says simply, ``Because I can.''
  Madam Speaker, today I rise to join the 1000 veterans in Colorado's 
Southwest region to thank and honor Charlie Parnell for his service to 
this country and to my constituents in the Third Congressional 
District.
  Thank you, Lt. Colonel Parnell for your hard work and dedication to 
our nation.

                          ____________________