[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 4843-4844]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




          CONGRATULATING 2015 BLUE STAR NEIGHBOR AWARD WINNER

                                  _____
                                 

                        HON. KATHERINE M. CLARK

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 13, 2015

  Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition 
of Mark Johnson who received the 2015 Blue Star Neighbor Award from 
Blue Star Families, Inc.
  Mark spent the winter of 2014 clearing the steps and driveways of 
service members and their families while they were deployed. He 
demonstrated leadership, kindness, generosity and a true sense of 
community through his

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willingness to lend a helping hand, going above and beyond for his 
neighbor, Chief Warrant Officer Sean Durkee and the veterans in the 
city of Waltham, Massachusetts.
  Blue Star Families, Inc. held an essay contest about neighbors who 
helped servicemen while deployed. Friend Kelly Durkee-Erwin, and sister 
of Sean, entered Mark's story in the contest. In January of 2015, Kelly 
was alerted that Mark's volunteerism, service and friendship would be 
rightfully recognized through the Blue Star Neighbor Award.
  First Lady Michelle Obama, Jill Biden's Joining Forces, The Creative 
Coalition and Mark Johnson were recently recognized by Blue Star 
Families, Inc. in Washington, DC for their service, achievements and 
support of military families.
  Mark is an inspiration to us all. His actions motivate us to 
strengthen our communities by giving back. I thank him for his service 
to Waltham families and congratulate him for his achievements.

                          ____________________