Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Retired Lt. Colonel John V. Azevedo for his service to our Nation and to his community.

John was born in Patterson, California to Joe and Maria Faustino Azevedo on December 21, 1919. He attended school in Patterson, then attended college in Modesto and Salinas. He then completed his education in Tokyo, Japan at Sophia University.

John joined the Army in May 1941, where he held the rank of Sergeant in the Infantry. In 1942, he was promoted to Second Lieutenant and served in England. John was in Normandy, France, crossing the beach 20 days after the first landings. While in France, John crossed Cherbourg, LeMans and Paris. He also served in Belgium as well as Holland. Following World War II, John was assigned to the Occupation Forces in Japan where he became Special Staff to General Douglas MacArthur.

During the Korean War, John served in both North and South Korea. Following his assignment in Korea, John served Stateside where he was stationed as an instructor at the Adjutant General's School in Indiana. When that assignment was up, John was sent once again to Japan for 3 years. He returned to the United States where his assignment landed him at the Pentagon with promotion to Major. When his assignment was complete at the Pentagon, John was sent back overseas where he was stationed in Heidelberg, Germany. John again returned to the United States and spent time in San Francisco where he served at the Reserve Forces Headquarters. John was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and returned to the Pentagon where he served as Director of the Army and Air Force Postal Service.

John served his country admirably for 25 years. John retired as a Lieutenant Colonel from the Army in 1966 and returned to his roots once again in Patterson, California. Once back in Patterson, he was elected to serve on the Patterson City Council where he also served as Vice Mayor.

John has served his community well. He is one of the founding members of the Patterson Historical Society where he served as a volunteer curator for over 20 years. The Patterson Apricot Festival honored John in 1997 by naming him Grand Marshal to preside over the Festival that year. John organized the Patterson Beautification Committee.

John has not only been honored by his community, but by his state as well. John was introduced on the California State Assembly floor where he was presented with an Assembly Resolution recognizing his volunteer work for the City of Patterson as well as Stanislaus County.

It is my pleasure to join the Patterson community in recognizing John V. Azevedo for his commitment to his community. It is an honor to call John my friend and represent him in the 18th Congressional District.

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 43, I was unavoidably detained during the rollcall vote. Had I been present I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Merced County Sheriff Gary T. Carlson. Sheriff Carlson was born in Iowa and raised in Illinois and graduated from Cathedral High School in Chicago, Illinois.

At the age of 18, Gary joined the United States Air Force and after basic training was stationed at Castle Air Force Base in Atwater, California. After over two years at Castle, he received orders to Vietnam. Gary returned to the U.S. in April 1970 and was honorably discharged at the rank of Sergeant at McCord Air Force Base in Seattle, Washington.

Gary again returned to Merced, California and attended Merced College studying in the area of Sociology. He applied for and was hired as a Merced County Deputy Sheriff in October 1971. His first assignment was working in the Jail Division. Sixteen months later, he was assigned to the midnight shift Patrol Division, then to the Detective Division. Gary

was promoted to Sheriff Sergeant in 1978. Since then, he has worked in Corrections, Narcotics and Detectives, along with Administrative Services. Gary was then promoted to Commander in May 1991.

In addition to his work at the Department, Gary has taught Administration of Justice classes at Merced College and possesses a lifetime teaching credential for California Community College in the Law Enforcement Field. He has a Bachelor's Degree from Chapman University in Administration of Justice and graduated with honors.

Gary was appointed to the Office of Sheriff-Coroner of Merced County by the Merced County Board of Supervisors and took office on May 5, 2001. He has three children, Juliette, Matthew and Christian. He is married to his wife, Linn.

It is my honor and privilege to recognize Sheriff Gary Carlson for his service to the Merced community and to our nation. Throughout his career, he has distinguished himself as a leader and mentor. It is my honor to call Sheriff Carlson my friend. I am delighted to recognize his service and his retirement as I wish he and Linn all the best in their future.