[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 16040]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   HOUSTON DYNAMOS HONOR SENIOR MASTER SERGEANT JOHN ``SPIKE'' GARCIA

                                 ______
                                 

                              HON. TED POE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 9, 2015

  Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, the Houston Dynamos have brought a new 
energy to Houston. The soccer team has drawn fans from across the 
country and given Houstonians another reason to embrace the color 
orange--besides the Houston Astros. Houston's Major League soccer team 
will celebrate its 10 year anniversary this month on October 18th at 
BBVA Compass Stadium against the Seattle Sounders. During this game the 
team will honor its past and present players and they will recognize 
our local veterans. Included in the team's recognition is one 
particular veteran who has given so much of his energy and all of his 
heart to helping our local veterans transition back home: John 
``Spike'' Garcia. Spike will call in the flyover and be honored by the 
Dynamos during halftime.
  If there is any area veteran that embodies the best of our nation, 
state and community it is Spike Garcia. Spike began his military career 
with the U.S. Army in 1983 and later served for 27 years with the Texas 
Air National Guard, retiring at the rank of Senior Master Sergeant. He 
volunteered for two combat tours to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi 
Freedom. Each day, after performing his military duties, he volunteered 
at the Air Force Theater Hospital in Balad.
  He previously served as the Airfield Manager for the 147th 
Reconnaissance Wing Joint Reserve Base at Ellington, and for his 
service, he has received numerous honors, including the 332nd 
Expeditionary Fighter Squadron Commander's Award and an Air Force One 
support presentation by President George W. Bush.
  Not only is Spike an honorable defender of liberty and freedom, he 
has a heart for supporting others, which is why the Dynamos' 
recognition of him is even more fitting. He is a dedicated father of 
two who spends his free time helping out his fellow man. He is a member 
of the Lone Star Veterans Association, the Armed Forces Appreciation 
Committee for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, the Houston 
Military Affairs Committee and he serves on my Service Academy 
Nomination Board for the Second Congressional District--just to name a 
few. The Houston Dynamos have selected a very deserving member of our 
community to be recognized. As Spike humbly put it, they could have 
selected anyone and they chose him.
  Spike has helped out the Dynamos' program since the beginning, and 
they consider him family. The name dynamo describes someone of great 
energy, a tenacious individual who never gives up. I can't think of 
anyone who exemplifies this more than Spike Garcia.
  And that's just the way it is.

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