[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 10]
[Senate]
[Page 13903]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   TRIBUTE TO MRS. SARAH J. GREENLEE

 Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I speak today in honor of Mrs. 
Sarah J. Greenlee, who this week accepted the 2011 Joan Orr Air Force 
Spouse of the Year award. Sarah was selected from thousands of nominees 
worldwide who selflessly support their loved ones in uniform. I am 
pleased to note that Sarah earned this honor while serving in the great 
State of Alaska at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. Sarah and her 
husband, LTC Paul Greenlee, have recently been transferred to Joint 
Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, but Sarah has left an indelible mark on the 
Anchorage area through her volunteer work and leadership in the 
community.
  Sarah was born into a military family and traveled extensively in the 
United States and Europe before graduating from Clark High School in 
San Antonio. She attended Southwest Texas State University, where she 
earned a bachelor's degree in psychology, and later the University of 
Texas-Arlington, where she achieved a master's degree in social work. 
Sarah subsequently entered the Air Force through the Commissioned 
Officer Training Program as a social worker. After 4 years of service, 
Sarah left the Air Force to become a full time wife and mother. Sarah 
and Paul are proud parents of Andrew, Rachel, and Zoe.
  There is a saying in the military that ``home is where the service 
takes you,'' and for the Greenlees home has been Mississippi, 
Washington, Illinois, Alaska, and now Hawaii. While we ask much of our 
men and women in uniform, we recognize it is the entire family who 
serves. With every move, families say goodbye to dear friends, kids 
start school in new places, and the clock starts ticking again toward 
the next transition. Despite enduring these frequent moves, military 
spouses quickly become leaders on base and in the local community. 
Sarah Greenlee is a fitting case in point.
  Sarah took several actions worth noting. We had two tragic aircraft 
accidents last year in Alaska where we lost the crews of a C-17 and an 
F-22 within a matter of months. In the aftermath, Sarah jumped in with 
support and comfort, providing food and offering encouragement to 
leaders and personnel from the affected units. She opened her home to 
children of commanders working on the recovery effort, relieving them 
to focus on obligations to their units.
  Sarah's impact in the local community was no less remarkable. She was 
active in the Mount Spurr Elementary School PTA and Anchorage Faith and 
Family Church. Pastors Brant and Tamara Barker, founders of the church, 
have travelled from Alaska to Washington to celebrate Sarah's 
significant accomplishment.
  Those who know Sarah best say she is a source of encouragement for 
all she meets. Her listening ears, compassionate words, and acts of 
kindness bring others support and hope.
  The Air Force Spouse of the Year award is named after the late Joan 
Orr, wife of former Secretary of the Air Force Verne Orr. Mrs. Orr was 
a rare, inspirational leader who would accompany her husband on visits 
to bases, meeting with families and visiting community support 
facilities. During the Christmas holiday, the Orrs traveled to remote 
bases in my home State of Alaska to visit servicemembers who were 
separated from their families. Mrs. Orr had a passion for teaching 
dance. Even as she struggled with the debilitating effects of Lou 
Gehrig's disease, she never cancelled a dance class. From a wheelchair 
and using a writing slate when her voice failed, she taught up to 2 
weeks before her death. Sarah, like Joan, realized she had something to 
give and the willingness in her heart to give it.
  I offer warm congratulations to Sarah on her selection as the 2011 
Air Force Spouse of the Year and wish her and her family a bright 
future.

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