[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 11]
[Senate]
[Pages 15209-15210]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO LLOYD GOODROW

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, today I am proud to call to the Senate's 
attention the record of accomplishment of a military officer who has 
retired after 33 years of outstanding service to the Vermont Air and 
Army National Guard.
  LTC Lloyd Goodrow served five Adjutant Generals. He distinguished 
himself in the position of State Public Affairs Officer. Through 
diligence, honesty, and integrity he forged a strong and 
straightforward relationship with the media and the Vermont 
Congressional Delegation.
  In the years after the attacks of September 11, 2001, Lieutenant 
Colonel Goodrow provided strong, meaningful support to deployed troops 
and their families. He helped Vermonters to make a human connection to 
the Guard during this difficult time. His empathy and deep 
understanding of the tragedy and suffering of Gold Star families not 
only aided those families in the healing process but left a lasting 
impression on Lloyd.
  Lloyd is an outstanding family man. Marcelle and I are fortunate to 
count as friends Lloyd, his wife Margo, and their son Daniel. Daniel 
has been recognized at the State and national level for his swimming in 
the Special Olympics. Like his parents, he has been a strong advocate 
for people with special needs.
  In recognition of Lieutenant Colonel Goodrow's service to our country 
and to our State of Vermont, I ask that an article, ``Spokesman for Vt. 
National Guard retires,'' written by Matt Ryan in the November 1, 2012, 
edition of the

[[Page 15210]]

Burlington Free Press, be entered into the Congressional Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

               [The Burlington Free Press, Nov. 1, 2012]

                   Goodrow Reflects on 33-Year Career

                             (By Matt Ryan)

       Lt. Col. Lloyd Goodrow said during his tenure as spokesman 
     for the Vermont National Guard, he has considered reporters 
     and soldiers alike his colleagues.
       ``It's easier if you have a relationship with the media, 
     and you understand where each other came from,'' Goodrow 
     said. ``Have we always agreed? No. Have we agreed to 
     disagree? Yes.''
       Goodrow, 58, of Essex Junction retired at midnight 
     Wednesday, ending a 33-year career with the Vermont National 
     Guard. He said his next order of business is to find a new 
     job.
       ``Today's bittersweet,'' he said earlier on Halloween. ``I 
     walk out of here tonight at midnight. The joke is I'm turning 
     into a pumpkin.''
       The University of Vermont graduate worked much of his 
     career with the Guard in public affairs. He typed his first 
     news release in 1987, about a man who built a cheap device 
     that could detect infrared light for the U.S. military. The 
     story circulated nationally for two years, he said.
       Goodrow has since spoken on behalf of soldiers who deployed 
     to Iraq and Afghanistan and returned home to rebuild Vermont 
     in the wake of Tropical Storm Irene.
       ``The hardest thing was dealing with the deaths of 
     soldiers,'' he said. ``The first time I looked into the eyes 
     of a gold star mother, it changed my life forever.''
       That was the mother of Vermont Army Guard Spec. Scott 
     McLaughlin, a 29-year-old husband and father of two from 
     Hardwick who was shot and killed by a sniper in Iraq in 2005.
       Goodrow said he helped the family gather photos of 
     McLaughlin for the media and later convinced them to allow 
     reporters in the church for the funeral services.
       ``The media is there to represent the community, and to 
     help the community as well,'' he said. ``I reminded them that 
     you help the community mourn.''
       Goodrow said he leaves media relations in the good hands of 
     Capt. Chris Gookin. Gookin stood to lead the Guard's public 
     affairs office upon Goodrow's retirement.
       ``It's important that the public knows who we are, what we 
     represent and what we can do for them,'' Goodrow said. 
     ``Because we belong to the people. We belong to the public.''
       Goodrow's retirement party is scheduled for noon Thursday 
     at the American Legion in Colchester. His formal retirement 
     ceremony is slated for 2 p.m. Sunday at the Green Mountain 
     Armory at Camp Johnson.
       ``I really have been blessed,'' he said. ``I've been part 
     of a group that's been second to none.''

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