[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 6]
[Senate]
[Pages 8814-8815]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              TRIBUTE TO LIEUTENANT COLONEL PETER W. OGDEN

 Mr. KING. Mr. President, I wish to honor the career of LTC 
Peter W. Ogden, who will retire this June as director of the Bureau of 
Veterans' Services. Peter has served in this role for the past 11 years 
and I am profoundly grateful for all that he has done for Maine and our 
esteemed veterans.
  Peter began serving the Nation and the State of Maine long before his 
position as director. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 
in 1967 and in the following years he completed two combat tours in 
Vietnam. After graduating from Maine Military Academy as a 
Distinguished Graduate, Peter served in the Maine Army National Guard. 
In total, Peter spent an impressive 28 years of his life dedicated to 
military service.
  Peter is an excellent example of a person who brings personal and 
selfless commitment to his career. As a veteran himself, Peter has a 
complete and thorough understanding of the challenges and issues 
veterans face on a regular basis. He has worked tirelessly

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to provide Maine veterans and their families with informational 
services, assistance programs, and strong representation. Through his 
work as director, Peter has improved the lives of countless Maine 
veterans and families.
  The programs and services Peter developed while director are 
essential to veterans as well as military men, women and families. I 
was particularly impressed by Peter's work supporting Gold Star 
families through projects such as House in the Woods. This project 
continues to help both families and veterans cope with loss by 
providing a close support network and outdoor-related experiences, from 
fishing to hiking.
  I greatly value public servants like Peter and I have a high 
appreciation for the essential and high-quality service he has ensured 
for Maine veterans during his time as director of the Bureau of 
Veterans' Services. I extend my sincerest congratulations and gratitude 
to Peter for all of his accomplishments and I wish him all the best in 
his well-deserved retirement.

                          ____________________