[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 12]
[House]
[Page 17034]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 CELEBRATING VETERANS DAY AND VETERANS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Costa) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, next week Americans throughout the country 
will celebrate Veterans Day. In cities and towns and hamlets, which all 
of us come from, we will take the time to thank and to honor those men 
and women who have served our Nation so nobly, to protect our freedoms 
and to keep this country safe, safe from all harm, foreign and 
domestic.
  Americans take a great deal of pride in their service to our country, 
and we must also remember those men and women who are today serving in 
Active Duty in harm's way throughout the world.
  I want to take this opportunity to honor two veterans who passed away 
this last September, who I worked with closely and who were community 
leaders, Charlie Waters and Earl Watson, both gentlemen who exemplified 
what is the best and the brightest our Nation has to offer.
  Earl Watson, or as many like to call him, ``Earl, the Pearl,'' was a 
World War II veteran. After the war, he moved to Los Angeles, where he 
worked as a doorman in the famous Hotel Knickerbocker. During a 
difficult time in our Nation's history, during World War II, when 
segregation was still in many places the law of the land, Earl was most 
proud that he could serve his Nation. He wrote a biography titled 
``Earl `The Pearl' Watson: Doorman to the Stars.'' But what he was most 
proud of was his service to our Nation.
  Earl loved people. He had a big smile, a friendly demeanor, and an 
eagerness to help those in need. Anytime a veteran ever came to him or 
a veterans organization had a problem, he was there to be helpful. Earl 
told me, when we were able to retrieve his medals that he had earned 
during his service to our country, that the proudest moment of all the 
many things he had done in his life was his service to our country.
  Earl is survived by his wife of 71 years, Melba; his children, Alan 
and Coleen; and grandchildren, Eric, Ashley, and Jonathan, who he was 
so, so very proud of.
  Another veterans' advocate who we all miss in the San Joaquin Valley 
is Charlie Waters, who served in the United States Marine Corps during 
the Korean war. Charlie, as he was affectionately known by all, never 
ever stopped fighting on behalf of veterans. I worked closely with him 
for many years, from working to get recognition for Hmong veterans to 
advocating for the funding of the opening of the veterans home that we 
successfully did that provides residence to those who deserve it. As a 
matter of fact, in Charlie's last days, he was able to stay there.
  He was a true champion of veterans not only throughout the Valley, 
but the Nation. But he did not stop there: supporting the Veterans 
Administration Hospital in Fresno and providing support for their 
efforts; organizing and helping continue the Veterans Day parade, which 
is one of the largest veterans parades in the entire nation that is 
shown on Armed Services Television; and individuals. No problem was too 
big or too small, as long as a veteran was there who needed Charlie's 
help.
  Therefore, we miss both Charlie and Earl very much for all that they 
have done and all that they exemplified in terms of honor, duty, and 
service to country. Charlie is survived by his wife, Cathy; and 
children, Charlie Waters, III, Karen, and Jennifer.
  Mr. Speaker, we want to take this time to recognize those leaders, 
those leaders who made a difference during their lives in serving our 
country. They are both shining examples of those who always--always--
cared first and foremost for our Nation.
  As we celebrate Veterans Day next week around the country, in towns 
and hamlets and cities throughout the Nation, we should think about all 
these veterans. We should think about the men and women who have served 
our Nation today in Active Duty. Never ever forget to say thank you for 
their service to a grateful Nation.

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