Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I am honored to use this time to recognize my constituent, Mr. Ottie Jackson Moore, Sr. Born in Gladys, Virginia on December 26, 1928, Mr. Moore has committed much of his life and career to service of the Commonwealth of Virginia and our nation. Mr. Moore has protected our nation abroad, having served in the United States Army, both as an active and reserve member, in addition to protecting the United States at home, as a member of the Virginia State Police and a seven-term Sheriff of Caroline Country, Virginia.

In 1951, during the Korean War, Mr. Moore was drafted into the United States Army, going on to serve three years of active duty. Mr. Moore completed basic training school, basic schools of enlisted training and the U.S. Army's Officer Candidate School (OCS) at Fort Bliss Texas in July 1952. After being commissioned a Second Lieutenant, Mr. Moore was assigned to an anti-aircraft unit as a commanding officer. After three years of active service, Mr. Moore joined the U.S. Army Reserves.

In the Reserves, Mr. Moore served as a commanding officer of a quartermaster unit and in several positions within the United States Army Reserves (USAR) School, including four years as Assistant Commandant. Over the course of his military service, Mr. Moore received the Meritorious Service Medal on two separate occasions. Mr. Moore would go on to serve a total of thirty years in the United States Army Reserves, completing his service having earned the rank of Colonel.

After graduating first in his class in 1955 from the Virginia State Police, Mr. Moore would go on to serve and protect the Commonwealth of Virginia for many years. After being elected Sheriff of Caroline County, Virginia in November 1963, Mr. Moore would serve seven terms until January 1992. In addition, Mr. Moore held several office level positions as a member of the Virginia Sheriff's Association, including President in 1975. Mr. Moore has actively advised the Virginia General Assembly on the passage of several bills related to advancements in training of local law enforcement personnel and was a founding member of the board that led to the creation of the Rappahannock Regional Training Academy in 1977.

Mr. Moore exemplifies the best of the First District of Virginia, with a life committed to service to his country and our commonwealth. Mr. Moore's life of patriotism, service, and selflessness should stand as an example to the ideals that make the First District, the Commonwealth of Virginia and the United States of America great.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Ms. Sue Swann's forty years of service to the Essex County Department of Social Services.

Ms. Swann was known as a diligent and determined employee who gave everyone she worked with countless reasons to admire her work ethic. Not only did she dedicate four decades of her life to the Department, but she worked three years in other state offices as well.

At work, she was frequently requested personally by clients for face- to-face meetings to discuss the benefits entitled to them. She did her job with unmatched love and care. Over forty years, she decided to stay in her position and reject countless promotions. Had she chosen to move to other localities, she could have been a Benefit Program Specialist 4 or 5, but because of the passion she has for what she did, she remained a Specialist 2.

Ms. Swann plans to go into retirement now after decades of her tremendous work, and I wish her the best of luck in her future endeavors.

Madam Speaker, I ask you to join me in honoring the service of this great woman, Ms. Sue Swann, to the people of Virginia's 1st District, to the Commonwealth of Virginia, and to the entirety of our great nation. May God bless Sue and her family for her countless hours of labor in service to her country.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Ms. Sue Swann's forty years of service to the Essex County Department of Social Security.

Ms. Swann was known as a diligent and determined employee who gave everyone she worked with countless reasons to admire her work ethic. Not only did she dedicate four decades of her life to the Department, but she worked three years in other state offices as well.

At work, she was frequently requested personally by clients for face- to-face meetings to discuss the benefits entitled to them. She did her job with unmatched compassion and care. Over forty years, she decided to stay in her position and reject countless promotions. Had she chosen to move to other localities, she could have been a Benefit Program Specialist 4 or 5, but because of the passion she has for what she did, she remained a Specialist.

Ms. Swann plans to go into retirement now after decades of her tremendous work, and I wish her the best of luck in her future endeavors.

Madam Speaker, I ask you to join me in honoring the service of this great woman, Ms. Sue Swann, to the people of Virginia's 1st District, to the Commonwealth of Virginia, and to the entirety of our great nation. May God bless Sue and her family for her countless hours of labor in service to her country.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of The Honorable Gordon Helsel's retirement from the Virginia House of Delegates. His extensive history as a military serviceman and a public servant exemplify his selflessness and dedication to our great nation.

In 1967, Gordon Helsel was drafted into the United States Army and was deployed to Vietnam as an infantry soldier. Ten months into his tour of duty, Gordon was ambushed by North Vietnamese soldiers and sustained multiple injuries while returning fire on the enemy position. Gordon's injuries would require him to spend five months in recovery and rightfully earned him two Purple Hearts and the Bronze Star. Gordon has been a steadfast advocate for veterans and a tireless supporter of our active duty military members and families. The Vietnam veterans' community has benefitted tremendously from Gordon's efforts and advocacy and has an unshakable bond with him and his family.

Since his military service, Gordon has pursued his dream of owning a business, purchasing the York Box and Barrel Manufacturing Company, Inc., which supplies containers for the region's seafood industry. He has helped many a seafood dealer and waterman throughout Tidewater Virginia. Anyone in the seafood processing or harvesting business has come across Gordon and his fantastic products. Consumers of seafood also greatly appreciate the preservation of quality that his products have provided to seafood lovers.

His service would continue at the local level where he served as city council member, Vice Mayor, Mayor, and Chief of Poquoson's Volunteer Fire Company. Gordon would eventually be elected to the House of Delegates in 2011, representing the 91st House District of Virginia. His efforts in serving his community on many levels has placed him as the quintessential servant leader in the eyes of folks through Virginia. His love of his country, Commonwealth and community shines through in everything that he says and does. His community loves Gordon and he loves them back.

Madam Speaker, I ask you to join me in recognition of Delegate Helsel's retirement from the Virginia General Assembly. Words alone cannot express our gratitude for his lifelong service to not only his community but to his country as well. May God bless Gordon Helsel and his family as he enters his retirement.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Ruth Brown's life and her many accomplishments. We deeply thank her for all of her support and dedication to our military.

Ruth was born in Harryhogan, VA on February 28, 1925. She married George W. Brown Jr., Former Town Sergeant and Mayor of Warsaw, VA in 1946. Ruth went on to have three children, six grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. She held her family at the center of her life.

Ruth was a charter member and secretary of the United Methodist Women and served on many committees within the Warsaw Methodist Church. She was a charter member of the Telephone Pioneers and retired from the Tidewater Telephone Company after 28 years of service. Ruth was also a charter member of the Veteran of Foreign Wars Ladies Auxiliary Post 7167 in Warsaw, VA. Finally, Ruth's heart belonged to our veterans. She spent her time fighting for them and taking care of them. She served our nation well during her long life.

Madam Speaker, I ask you to join me in recognizing the accomplishments, tenacity, and dedication of Ruth Brown. Words alone cannot express our gratitude. May God bless Ruth Brown and her family.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the 100th birthday of World War II Veteran, Mr. Raymond Burrell.

In the winter of 1944-45, Raymond Burrell was a member of the famous 761st Tank Battalion, the Black Panthers. The 761st Tank Battalion was the first to consist of African-Americans and saw extensive action at the Battle of the Bulge. Raymond Burrell demonstrated bravery and a cunning military mind on multiple occasions. Despite experiencing seemingly hopeless situations, Raymond persevered along with the other members of the 761st Tank Battalion and held their vital positions on the battlefield. Our nation is lucky to have had someone like him risk his life to protect us all.

Madam Speaker, I ask you to join me in recognizing the accomplishments, bravery, and dedication of Raymond Burrell. Words alone cannot express our gratitude. May God bless Raymond Burrell, and I look forward to seeing his excellence in the future.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Betsy Aldrich and her 65 years of service to the Daughters of the American Revolution. I would like to personally thank her for her service and dedication to our nation.

Betsy was born in Richmond, Virginia and raised at Shelly in ``Coke'' Virginia, where she resides today. She attended Mary Washington College for two years and then headed to William and Mary, where she earned a degree in philosophy. Betsy went on to teach early elementary school in Alexandria, Virginia. Betsy married her husband Robert D. Aldrich in 1951 and had two children, John Page Aldrich and Dr. Lee Aldrich Rouse.

Betsy descends from John Page of Rosewell, the 13th Governor of Virginia and Thomas Nelson, Jr, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Following in the footsteps of her heritage, Betsy has always been incredibly interested in Virginia history and is the only surviving charter member of the Augustine Warner Chapter of the DAR formed in 1953. I commend Betsy for her work with the DAR over the past 65 years and am grateful to have someone such as Betsy in our Virginia community.

Madam Speaker, I ask you to join me in the recognition of Betsy Aldrich. The Commonwealth is fortunate to have someone with such dedication and commitment. May God bless Betsy Aldrich and I look forward to seeing her continued success for many years to come.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of this year's Outstanding Virginians, Tayloe and Helen Murphy, two dedicated servant leaders from the First District of Virginia.

Tayloe Murphy received his Bachelor's degree from Hampden-Sydney College in 1953 and his law degree from the University of Virginia in 1960. He was commissioned an Ensign in the U.S. Naval Reserve from 1954 to 1957. He then served aboard the U.S.S. Newport News, and later on the staff of the Supreme Allied Commander of NATO. Tayloe Murphy was elected to the Virginia General Assembly as a Delegate to represent the 99th District from 1982 until his retirement in 2000. His committee assignments included Labor and Commerce, Courts of Justice, Corporations Insurance and Banking, and Chesapeake and Its Tributaries. He was later appointed Secretary of Natural Resources under Governor Mark Warner. Throughout his political career and beyond, Murphy has been a champion of the environment. He has worked hard to be a leader in the efforts to clean up the Chesapeake Bay, with includes his landmark legislation in 1988, the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act.

Helen Murphy graduated from Sweet Briar College in 1956, and shortly after, married Tayloe. Helen is also an avid environmentalist who has dedicated her life to conservation. Helen served on the board of the Nature Conservancy, Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens, and the Virginia Outdoors Foundation, among others, and was a founding member of The Garden Club of the Northern Neck. Helen also served as the President of the Menokin Foundation and was awarded Volunteer of the Year by the Association of Fundraising Professionals Central Virginia Chapter in 1999.

The couple continues to work to address environmental issues to this day. Tayloe and Helen have devoted their lives to leaving a legacy through their leadership and unrelenting conservation efforts in the Commonwealth and the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Tayloe and Helen could not be more deserving of this year's Outstanding Virginian Award.

Madam Speaker, I ask you to join me in recognizing the incredible accomplishments and devotion of Tayloe and Helen Murphy. Words alone cannot express our gratitude for their service to our great Commonwealth of Virginia. May God bless Tayloe and Helen Murphy in all their future endeavors.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Lieutenant Commander Felix Martinez's retirement after 40 years of public service. I would like to personally thank him for his service and dedication to our nation.

Lieutenant Commander Martinez has spent the last 40 years working to serve his community. He began by working as a college instructor at the City Colleges of Chicago and then moved on to become a teacher and baseball coach at Nelson County Schools. We are fortunate to have someone as honorable as Lieutenant Commander Martinez educating our youth.

Lieutenant Commander Martinez spent the next 30 years of his career in Military Services with the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps. He began his work as a US Naval Officer with Associate Protocol. Lieutenant Commander Martinez then worked as a Research Liaison, Coordinator, Homeland Defense Planner, and Analyst for the US Navy. Finally, Lieutenant Commander Martinez has most recently served as the Senior Naval Science Instructor for NJROTC unit at Stafford County Schools. I wish to express my immense gratitude to Lieutenant Commander Martinez for dedicating his life to serving the United States of America.

Madam Speaker, I ask you to join me in recognition of Lieutenant Commander Felix Martinez. The Commonwealth is fortunate to have someone with such valor and commitment. May God bless Lieutenant Commander Martinez and I look forward to seeing his continued success for many years to come.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Chabad Lubavitch of Greater Gainesville and Manassas First Torah. On April 7, 2019, the Chabad Lubavitch of Greater Gainesville and Manassas completed and dedicated the First Torah ever in Western Prince William County.

The Torah is an unbroken chain of Jewish survival and tradition going back over 3,300 years to when the Jews received the Torah at Mount Sinai. In fact, crafting a single Torah scroll takes over a year to complete. The Gainesville Jewish Community came out to participate in the Torah's completion and to celebrate with music, singing, and dancing festivities.

Established in June 2017, Chabad Lubavitch of Greater Gainesville and Manassas is currently the only Jewish center/organization in Gainesville and Western Prince William County. Under the guidance and inspiration of Lubavitcher Rebbe and Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson OBM, they have both strived to make it a home for every Jew in Prince William County, regardless of their level of observance or affiliation.

Madam Speaker, I ask you to join me in recognition of Chabad Lubavitch of Greater Gainesville and Manassas First Torah. The welcoming of the Torah is a remarkable achievement for the Gainesville Jewish Community, just as they continue to grow and establish a welcoming Jewish community in the area. May God bless the Prince William Chabad Center and I look forward to seeing their presence continue for many years to come.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Victoria ``Tori'' Martin and her accomplishment of earning one gold medal and two silver medals at the Special Olympics World Games.

A 25-year-old woman from our local Woodbridge, VA represented the USA Team with honor at the Special Olympics World Games held in the United Arab Emirates this year. Through her hard work and dedication, Tori earned two silver medals in the 100m individual medley and the 200m freestyle, and a gold medal in the 100m breaststroke, with a winning time of 1:35:99.

Tori began swimming at the age of two and has been reaching new goals ever since. Tori comes from a family of athletes and was raised to be a team player. She encourages her teammates even when it means finishing behind them. Tori trains five to six days a week and believes that everyone can create their own path and open new doors for themselves. Tori is an avid swimmer with unrelenting passion and ambition.

Tori did an incredible job representing the United States in the Special Olympic World games and the U.S. is lucky to have her as a team member. We can all expect to see great things in the future from Tori.

Madam Speaker, I ask you to join me in recognizing the accomplishments of Tori Martin at the Special Olympics World Games.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Mathews County's Heritage 2019 Spring Festival. This year's event will include a ``Salute to the Military,'' which will feature a daylong tribute to those men and women of Mathews who served and now serve in our nation's military. The event will also honor American Legion Post 83 on its 100th anniversary year.

This year's festival will include military displays and memorabilia from each of the services. Mathews Historical will include displays of the USS Mathews, which served time in World War II and the Vietnam War. In addition to the many great displays, the festival will also include musical tributes to our military, arts and crafts competitions, and the traditional May Pole Dance.

I am extremely proud to say that this year's festival will have six Mathews' World War II veterans, who will share their memories and experiences during the war. A Wall of Remembrance will also be present at the Mathews Historical Museum, which includes over 400 photographs of local residents who have served and currently serve in our nation's military.

Madam Speaker, I ask you to join me in recognition of the Mathews County Heritage 2019 Spring Festival. Words cannot express our gratitude for our military men and women, as they have made immeasurable sacrifices for our great nation. May God bless Mathews County and I hope to see their excellence continue into the future.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the retirement of Mr. Ken Carter after many years of service to his country. His time as an independent contractor, government contractor, and Supervisory Contract Specialist has been invaluable, and we wish him well in his well-deserved retirement.

Mr. Ken Carter is a retired enlisted airman, retiring as Senior Master Sergeant after 23 years of service. With more than 38 years of experience in contracting, his experience includes major construction, commodities, services, R&D, and Systems Engineering. In terms of higher education, Mr. Carter holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Organizational Management Development from Bluefield College and an Associate Degree in Contract Management from the Community College of the Air Force. Mr. Carter also holds an Unlimited Contracting Officer Warrant with the VA and a Level III Contracting Professional Certification.

Currently serving as a Supervisory Contract Specialist with the VA, he is responsible for the supervision of 5 subordinate employees. Prior to assuming this position, Mr. Carter provided services as a Procurement Coordinator within the Strategic Acquisitions Center ARRC Directorate. His previous assignments include a five-year tour with the Federal Aviation Administration where he completed the largest single major contract in the history of the Agency. Beyond his illustrious career, Mr. Carter enjoys fishing, doing yard work, camping in the Shenandoah Valley, and attending football games at James Madison University where his grandson is a member of the JMU Marching Royal Dukes band. Residing in Spotsylvania County with his wife Ronna Carter, it is easy to see that Mr. Carter has led a wonderful, purpose filled life.

Madam Speaker, I ask you to join me in recognizing the bounty of Mr. Ken Carter's accomplishments as he enters retirement. To that end, we hope that he enjoys the extra time he has with his family, his football games, as well as with his fishing poles.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of John Bayliss of Bayliss Boatworks from Wanchese, North Carolina. John is the leader of a team who every day applies their experience and unique craftsmen touch in creating perfectly crafted vessels for their unique clientele.

Bayliss Boatworks was established in 2002. With a fishing background, self-motivated John, and his team built the company from the ground up. John and friends were able to draw up a number of contacts from the sportfishing community to begin their brand-new shop to create their exquisite boats used for fishing, travel and entertainment. John turned his passion into a profession. Since the establishment of the company, Bayliss Boatworks has risen to become one of the premier boat craftsmen in the world. I am fortunate to have known John for many years and be witness to the dedication he has for his family, colleagues, and Bayliss Boatworks. John is a visionary who is focused on the finest craftsmanship and assuring that the details of quality boatbuilding are central in the work done in all of Bayliss Boatworks shops. Servant leadership describes John's 17 years in boatbuilding. He puts his employees and customers first and is always willing to go the extra mile to help others. Humility, honesty, integrity, work ethic and love for his family, friends and co-workers are reflected in every aspect of his life. He has a deep, lifelong passion for sportfishing and boatbuilding and continues to build upon this legacy every day.

Madam Speaker, I ask you to join me in recognizing the accomplishments of John Bayliss as he and Bayliss Boatworks celebrate 17 years in operation. May God bless John and the operations of the Bayliss Boatworks, and I look forward to seeing their excellence for many years into the future.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Bayliss Boatworks of

Wanchese, North Carolina, a team who every day applies their experience and unique craftsmen touch in creating the perfect vessels for their clientele. They are world renowned for exceptional attention to detail and building boats the right way. Team Bayliss Boatworks is over 100 strong and are all experts in their trades. Every step of designing and building boats is done in house with total attention to honoring their customers. They build the most effective, efficient, and well-built sportfishing boat in existence.

Bayliss Boatworks was established in 2002. The team was able to immediately draw up a number of contracts to begin their brand-new shop to create their exquisite boats used for fishing, travel and entertainment. Each boat is custom made to fit the needs and preferences of each client. These boats begin as a jig until it surpasses benchmarks like the ``Whiskey Plank,'' hull rollover, and engine install. From there, the boats will have their cabins installed, flybridge and mezzanine build-out, interior cabinetry construction, paint, sea trial, and lastly, delivery to the client. The hard work of the employees can be seen on the water around the world. Since its establishment in 2002, Bayliss Boatworks have received mentions in magazines such as Marlin, being classified among the top builders in the world. It is a prestigious honor to be considered among the world's best boat craftsmen. The Team at Bayliss Boatworks is a family with each member respecting and valuing their colleagues that are always striving to be better and set the standard for the boat building industry. They are focused on building the best sportfishing boats in the world and with assuring that all of the needs of their customers are met.

Madam Speaker, I ask you to join me in recognizing the accomplishments of Bayliss Boatworks as they celebrate 17 years in operation. May God bless the hardworking employees of Bayliss Boatworks, and I look forward to seeing their excellence for many years into the future.