[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 18621]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING WALTER E. LENCKI

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. MARY BONO MACK

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, January 1, 2013

  Mrs. BONO MACK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of a 
great American, my friend, Walter E. Lencki. Sadly, Walt passed away on 
December 24 of this year at the age of 78. Our nation has lost a true 
patriot.
  Walt dedicated his life to service; to our country, to his community 
and to the people he loved. Born January 5, 1934 and raised in Chicago, 
Walt attended Catholic schools and upon graduating enlisted in the U.S. 
Marine Corps. He served his nation proudly in the Korean conflict and 
earned the respect of his fellow Marines and his family. After being 
awarded an honorary discharge from the Corps, he joined his family in 
relocating to California, where he made his home for many years.
  After working briefly in sales, Walt found his true calling and 
joined the Burbank, California, police force where he quickly rose to 
the rank of homicide detective. His expertise made him an invaluable 
instructor to police and other first responders, and he later shared 
his knowledge as a teacher at several colleges in California.
  I came to know Walt when he once again displayed his desire to serve 
his military comrades and their families by helping to found and 
organize the Semper Fi #1 Memorial Honor Guard at Riverside Memorial 
Cemetery in Riverside, California, to honor fallen Veterans who would 
otherwise not have received the military honors they had earned in 
service to our nation. Walt served as a charter member of this proud 
group of Marines, and again used his expertise as a trainer to those 
who also sought to join this volunteer group.
  It was a great honor to support the efforts of Walt and Semper Fi #1 
Memorial Honor Guard, and it was clear that Walt's love of country and 
respect for service was a driving force behind the establishment of 
this outstanding organization.
  Walt is survived by his loving wife, Oksana, who he married in May of 
2009 in Portland, Oregon, near the community of Roseberg where he had 
retired, his children Denise Fejtek and her husband, Paul, Douglas 
Lencki, and Daniel Lencki and his wife, Renee and his grandson, Ryan 
and Oksana's son, Nazar Davyda.
  I extend my deepest sympathy to Oksana and the entire Lencki family 
and hope that they will find comfort in the memory of the time they 
shared with this remarkable man. I ask that my colleagues join me in 
honoring the memory of this proud Marine and patriotic American. His 
life of service and devotion to our nation inspired me and countless 
others, and his legacy will live on in his beloved Marine Corps and his 
family.
  Thank you, Walt, for your service and friendship.