[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 10709]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


  LETTER OF COMMENDATION FOR MR. WILLARD ``SMITTY'' SMITH, USN (RET.)

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. E. SCOTT RIGELL

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, July 8, 2011

  Mr. RIGELL. Mr. Speaker, it is a high honor and privilege to commend 
Mr. Willard Smith of Virginia Beach, a patriot known to his friends and 
peers affectionately simply as ``Smitty.''
  Smitty is not only recognized for his notable military service in the 
United States Navy, but for his commitment to the wellbeing and 
recovery of more than 500 of our nation's brave but now homeless 
veterans. After five tours of duty in Vietnam as a Navy Seabee, Smitty 
serves as Executive Director at Vetshouse, a unique nonprofit 
organization serving homeless veterans in the Tidewater area in 
Virginia. Vetshouse is not a shelter, but a 12-month program providing 
contemporary living quarters in a group environment, assistance in job 
hunting, transportation, personal skills and development guidance.
  For having the courage not only to turn his own life around, but for 
having the compassion and commitment to help his fellow man do the 
same; For bringing health, hope, and happiness into the lives of so 
many around him; And for his discipline, dedication, and devotion to 
our nation's treasured veterans; I hereby commend Mr. Willard 
``Smitty'' Smith.

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