Barbara Comstock

Mr. Speaker, it is with deep regret and sadness that I rise to share with you and our colleagues, the tragic news about the passing of a community hero of Winchester, Virginia, Police Officer Hunter Edwards. Officer Edwards is the second Winchester police officer to have died in the line of duty and the residents of the close-knit community of Winchester and the Northern Shenandoah Valley are in profound grief over this tragedy.

On November 24th, Officer Edwards died after his police cruiser skidded on a downhill, rain-slicked section of road and tragically crashed into a tree as he was quickly responding to a call for help at a residence where a major altercation had broken out. Only 30 years old and recently married, Hunter had begun to experience the joy and satisfaction of family life with his wife, Tara Markley, and their four-year-old son, Landon. And since becoming a member of the Winchester Police Department in the summer of 2014, Hunter's professionalism and dedication to duty had resulted in his being assigned to the Civil Disturbance Unit and the SWAT Team, and as a field training officer for the Department. He had also earlier worked as a police officer with the Defense Intelligence Agency.

As a nation of freedom-loving people, we are deeply grateful to our national and community heroes, without whose selfless sacrifice we know, for a certainty, that we would not be free. When we tuck our children and grandchildren into bed at night, and turn out the lights in our homes, we rest assured that heroes like Hunter Edwards, who was working the second shift from 2:30 p.m. until 2:00 a.m., are protecting us from all evil and danger.

Mr. Speaker, I ask you and our colleagues to join me in echoing the sentiments of a grateful nation for the courageous service of Police Officer Hunter Edwards, and in expressing prayers for Officer Edwards' family as they cope with this tragic and untimely loss. May we be forever inspired by the duty and sacrifice of Officer Hunter Edwards, to acknowledge and support our police officers, sheriff's deputies, fire fighters and other first responders and their families, and do whatever we can in our own lives, to build stronger, safer communities in which to live.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart to honor the life of Mrs. Evelynn Belle Turbeville Ware. As a constituent of Hillsboro, Virginia, Belle devoted her life to her family and public service. She was dedicated to her beloved husband, John, and together they raised four children. Belle is survived by daughter: Vicki Ware Albert and her husband Charles; daughter Paige Ware Petro and her husband Mark; son John Ware; son Mark Ware and his wife Amie; 10 grandchildren: Jeremy Barry, Lindsay Albert, Kendall Albert, Morgan Petro, Chris Petro, Jordan Ware, Jackson Ware, Evan Ware, Matthew Ware, and Nathan Ware; and 2 great grandchildren: Owen Barry and Kyle Barry.

Belle was a long-time resident of Hillsboro, Virginia having moved there with her parents and sister during the end of World War II. After they married, Belle and John moved to a tiny house in town where they lived while restoring a Victorian farmhouse they purchased in Hillsboro. Belle was one of the founding members of what is now the Short Hill Historical Society and helped save the Old Stone School from demolition. She served as an active member of this non-profit for 42 years and was most fond of the Christmas in Hillsboro Historic Homes Tour. Belle had a drive and a passion to support the people and causes she held dear.

Following in the footsteps of her mother who was the first female mayor in the Commonwealth of Virginia, she devoted her entire life to a career as a public servant who profoundly impacted our community. Belle served on the Hillsboro Town Council and for many years, she was the Town Treasurer, ultimately becoming Hillsboro's Vice Mayor. Belle was also a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and each year recognized an elementary school student at Hillsboro with the DAR award. Belle's heart was sincere in her service to the community, and her legacy serves as inspiration for others in public service.

Belle was enthusiastic about serving the Lord as member of the congregation of the Hillsboro United Methodist Church and the United Methodist Women's Group. Belle sang in the choir and was instrumental in many volunteer efforts through the church which included making apple butter, raising money through a yard sale, helping prepare and serve the annual freewill offering holiday dinner, packaging and donating meals for local families in need, hosting the annual church picnic, and helping with a local food bank. Belle also built her life working at a medical practice for thirty years before retiring.

Mr. Speaker, I ask you to join me as we recognize the extraordinary life and legacy of Mrs. Evelynn Belle Turbeville Ware. The impact she has had on the Commonwealth of Virginia and to our country will never be forgotten, and I offer our deepest condolences to the Ware family.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the tremendous work of my constituent Mr. Dennis Kacoyanis of Chantilly, Virginia. Mr. Kacoyanis plans to retire on January 3, 2019, after more than 40 years of federal service. His dedication and professionalism throughout his career have provided exceptional benefit to the people of the United States.

Mr. Kacoyanis spent the early portion of his federal career as an attorney at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission enforcing employment laws prohibiting discrimination in the workplace. Since 1987, Mr. Kacoyanis has served as an attorney for the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Mr. Kacoyanis performed a number of duties to keep consumers safe, including ensuring that hazardous products were promptly recalled from the market and that companies immediately reported hazardous products to the Commission. He zealously advocated for the Commission's interests in federal court cases. He also worked hard to ensure the Commission met its responsibility to release information to the public--increasing transparency, accountability and trust in government.

In addition to his 32 years of work at the Commission, Mr. Kacoyanis previously served the American people at the U.S. Department of Justice in the Civil Rights Division, and at the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia, Alexandria Division.

Mr. Speaker, I now ask that my colleagues join me in thanking Mr. Kacoyanis for the outstanding service he provided to the United States throughout his long-lasting career. I wish him all the best in his future endeavors.