Jim Marshall

Madam Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today not only as the Representative of the 8th District of Georgia, but also as a member of the House Armed Services Committee, to honor the exemplary service and accomplishments of Major General Polly A. Peyer on the occasion of her retirement from the United States Air Force.

Maj. Gen. Peyer distinguished herself through exceptionally meritorious service to the Air Force and to the Nation during more than thirty-four years of active military service in peace and war, culminating as the Commanding General, Warner Robins Air Logistics Center, Air Force Materiel Command, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia.

Madam Speaker, throughout her career, Maj. Gen. Peyer has been in the forefront of Air Force logistics, serving in all command positions from squadron to wing level and has

held major command and headquarters-level positions. Among her many accomplishments, Maj. Gen. Peyer was directly responsible for ensuring the highest quality support to maintenance programs supporting the C- 130, F-15, C-17, and C-5 aircraft, among others. Her commitment to excellence directly led the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center to garner 61 national, Air Force, and command organizational awards, and resulted in the Air Force's ability to achieve goals set for the troop surge in Afghanistan, while simultaneously supporting ongoing operations in Iraq.

Dedicated to the well-being of Team Robins, Maj. Gen. Peyer oversaw the development of the ``You Matter'' program to raise awareness of suicide and develop understanding, recognition, and skills to proactively prevent it. Maj. Gen. Peyer was also a staunch advocate of workplace safety and implemented the Commander's Safe Site Challenge to implement tenets of OSHA Voluntary Protection Programs. Furthermore, Maj. Gen. Peyer and her husband, Colonel (Retired) Brian Grady, were untiring advocates for various organizations, causes, and issues including one of our Nation's most outstanding gems, the Museum of Aviation.

Madam Speaker, Major General Peyer leaves the United States Air Force, the Department of Defense, the Nation, and the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center stronger through her vision and leadership. Her dedication to excellence and devotion to duty, honor, and country have marked her distinguished service. Her record of achievement and manner of service throughout her long career in positions of enormous responsibility are commensurate with honoring her in the Congressional Record. I thank her for her service.

Madam Speaker, regarding rollcall vote 526 on the previous question, I mistakenly voted no. I meant to vote yes.

Madam Speaker, it is my pleasure to rise today to honor five of Macon, Georgia's great citizens: R. Kirby Godsey, Robert F. Hatcher, the late William S. Hutchings, the late Charles H. Jones, and Juanita T. Jordan. Each has earned the respect and admiration of Central Georgians by building coalitions to improve communities and institutions throughout the State of Georgia.

Individually, these citizens of Georgia have accomplished great deeds. They have risen to the highest levels of their chosen professions and are held in the highest esteem by their colleagues and professional organizations. Each has contributed visionary leadership, perseverance and untold hours to civic and charitable endeavors,

These five individuals have also shared a love of their hometown, Macon, Georgia and a passion for improving the quality of life and

economic prosperity of the Central Georgia region. All areas of community life in Macon--education, race relations, economic development, social services and recreation--have been improved through the tireless efforts of these individuals.

In addition to this group's selfless work as individuals, they also achieved great things by working together to help Macon. One of their most lasting and important contributions to Macon was their collective effort to found and fund NewTown Macon, a non-profit organization focused on the revitalization of downtown Macon.

Macon, Georgia is one of the great cities of the American South. With 5,500 individual structures and 11 districts listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Macon's downtown is a textbook of historic architecture. Like many other American cities, however, Macon's downtown struggled during the latter part of the twentieth century as families and businesses moved to the suburbs. By the mid-1990s, much of downtown Macon was shuttered and neglected, and many historic properties were in danger of being permanently lost. These five leaders recognized that a region cannot escape the fate and reputation of its central city, that decaying urban centers limit the growth and prosperity of entire regions. They acted decisively to form a public- private partnership that began changing the face of downtown Macon.

In the fourteen years since NewTown's founding, more than $350 million has been invested in downtown and the renaissance of Macon's urban center is well underway. Businesses and families are moving back downtown, historic properties are being restored to their earlier grandeur, and civic pride is growing. I am confident that these achievements would not have happened without Kirby Godsey, Bob Hatcher, Bill Hutchings, Charlie Jones, and Juanita Jordan's determination and leadership. Macon is a better city for their efforts.

Please join me in thanking these great and influential individuals for their contributions to Macon and the State of Georgia.