[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 10]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 15235]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   RECOGNIZING RETIRED UNITED STATES NAVY COMMANDER KERWIN E. MILLER

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 4, 2013

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues in the 
House to join me in recognizing retired United States Navy Commander 
Kerwin E. Miller on the occasion of his 60th birthday and in honoring 
him for his service to his country in multiple ways throughout his 
adult life.
  Cdr. Miller has made public service a lifelong pursuit. Since his 
induction to the U.S. Naval Academy in 1971, Kerwin has served under 
seven presidents, two Members of Congress, Walter Fauntroy and myself, 
and two mayors of the District of Columbia, Anthony Williams and Adrian 
Fenty, and has had a special commitment to the 40,000 veterans and the 
more than 600,000 residents in the District of Columbia. Kerwin 
graduated from the Naval Academy in 1975, and his heart has never left 
The Yard, where he continues to serve his alma mater as a member of the 
Admissions Committee.
  In 1986, Kerwin joined Congressman Fauntroy's Service Academy 
Selection Board, and since 1991, he has served the people of the 
Nation's capital as first Vice-Chairman and now as Chairman of the 
Board. He indefatigably guides students through their applications and 
promotes the benefits of a Service Academy education in general and of 
the Naval Academy in particular. Kerwin always has a plan, a program, 
or an athletic event (usually all three at once), sometimes with 
musical accompaniment by the U.S. Naval Academy Gospel Choir, to 
encourage DC students to investigate their possibilities at the 
Academies.
  Along with his outstanding service to the Academies, Kerwin played a 
strong role in saving the District of Columbia's War Memorial, was an 
attorney in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and served as 
director of the Mayor's Office of Veterans Affairs. He has always been 
a staunch advocate for the District's right to govern itself, and, 
above all, a devoted, thoughtful, and a fearsome friend of the city and 
a friend who has my personal respect and admiration.
  I particularly remember Kerwin's attention to his mentor, the late 
Lt. Cdr. Wesley Brown, USNA 1949, the first African American graduate 
of the Naval Academy. Kerwin helped plan the dedication of the field 
house that bears Lt. Cdr. Brown's name, organized Wesley's affairs, his 
care, and his memorial service. Kerwin continues to serve as his 
executor.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me recognizing Cdr. Miller 
not only with a ``Happy Birthday'' on his 60th birthday, but 
particularly for his service to the country and city, and always as 
with ``Go Navy! Beat Army!''

                          ____________________