Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Andrew Meyers, a very special young man who has exemplified the finest qualities of citizenship and leadership by taking an active part in the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 98, and in earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout.

Andrew has been very active with his troop, participating in many scout activities. Over the many years Andrew has been involved with scouting, he has not only earned numerous merit badges, but also the respect of his family, peers, and community.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Andrew Meyers for his accomplishments with the Boy Scouts of America and for his efforts put forth in achieving the highest distinction of Eagle Scout.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Brandon Crain, a very special young man who has exemplified the finest qualities of citizenship and leadership by taking an active part in the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 98, and in earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout.

Brandon has been very active with his troop, participating in many scout activities. Over the many years Brandon has been involved with scouting, he has not only earned numerous merit badges, but also the respect of his family, peers, and community.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Brandon Crain for his accomplishments with the Boy Scouts of America and for his efforts put forth in achieving the highest distinction of Eagle Scout.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Kyle Murray, a very special young man who has exemplified the finest qualities of citizenship and leadership by taking an active part in the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 98, and in earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout.

Kyle has been very active with his troop, participating in many scout activities. Over the many years Kyle has been involved with scouting, he has not only earned numerous merit badges, but also the respect of his family, peers, and community.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Kyle Murray for his accomplishments with the Boy Scouts of America and for his efforts put forth in achieving the highest distinction of Eagle Scout.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Ethan Stockdale, a very special young man who has exemplified the finest qualities of citizenship and leadership by taking an active part in the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 98, and in earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout.

Ethan has been very active with his troop, participating in many scout activities. Over the many years Ethan has been involved with scouting, he has not only earned numerous merit badges, but also the respect of his family, peers, and community.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Ethan Stockdale for his accomplishments with the Boy Scouts of America and for his efforts put forth in achieving the highest distinction of Eagle Scout.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Charles K. Light II, a very special young man who has exemplified the finest qualities of citizenship and leadership by taking an active part in the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 397, and in earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout.

Charles has been very active with his troop, participating in many scout activities. Over the many years Charles has been involved with scouting, he has not only earned numerous merit badges, but also the respect of his family, peers, and community.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Charles K. Light II for his accomplishments with the Boy Scouts of America and for his efforts put forth in achieving the highest distinction of Eagle Scout.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Christopher Adam Roth, a very special young man who has exemplified the finest qualities of citizenship and leadership by taking an active part in the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 98, and in earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout.

Christopher has been very active with his troop, participating in many scout activities. Over the many years Christopher has been involved with scouting, he has not only earned numerous merit badges, but also the respect of his family, peers, and community.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Christopher Adam Roth for his accomplishments with the Boy Scouts of America and for his efforts put forth in achieving the highest distinction of Eagle Scout.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Alexander Daniel Shinn, a very special young man who has exemplified the finest qualities of citizenship and leadership by taking an active part in the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 98, and in earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout.

Alexander has been very active with his troop, participating in many scout activities. Over the many years Alexander has been involved with scouting, he has not only earned numerous merit badges, but also the respect of his family, peers, and community.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Alexander Daniel Shinn for his accomplishments with the Boy Scouts of America and for his efforts put forth in achieving the highest distinction of Eagle Scout.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Jonathan Matthew Leone, a very special young man who has exemplified the finest qualities of citizenship and leadership by taking an active part in the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 98, and in earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout.

Jonathan has been very active with his troop, participating in many scout activities. Over the many years Jonathan has been involved with scouting, he has not only earned the numerous merit badges, but also the respect of his family, peers, and community.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Jonathan Matthew Leone for his accomplishments with the Boy Scouts of America and for his efforts put forth in achieving the highest distinction of Eagle Scout.

Mr. Speaker, I stand to recognize Larry Reeter, a lifelong resident of Livingston County, Missouri and the recipient of the Elks Citizen of the Year Award. Born in 1941, Larry has lived in Livingston County his entire life. He graduated from Chillicothe High School in 1958 and then went to serve his country honorably in the Army National Guard from 1959 to 1968. After 42 years of service as a lineman and construction supervisor for the Farmers Electric Co-op, Larry retired in March of 2004.

In service to his community, Larry joined the Calvary Baptist Church in 1961. Then he became a Deacon in 1970, was licensed to preach in 1979, and ordained as a minister in 1986. During that time he presided over services in the Ludlow Baptist Chapel, Calvary Baptist Church, and for 30 years at the National Guard Armory. He routinely fills in for churches in the area that are in need of a pastor and holds services at the Chillicothe Correctional Center. Larry has also donated his time to many families who have suffered the loss of a loved one or are experiencing an illness in the family, and he makes frequent trips to visit with people in the local hospitals and hospitals in Kansas City.

In his spare time in retirement, Larry continues his service by taking community members to their doctor appointments and to visit family members or friends in the hospital. He also makes presentations portraying Abraham Lincoln to the local elementary schools, giving young students a history of Lincoln's life and the strong values that he believed in.

I am proud to represent Larry Reeter as an outstanding member of our community and now as the recipient of the Elks Citizen of the Year Award. The residents of Livingston County appreciate his service and all of Northwest Missouri is proud to have him as one of our most valued citizens. It is an honor to represent him and I ask the United States Congress to extend their appreciation for his lifelong service.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Leroy and Barbara Shatto of Osborn, Missouri. They are the owners of Shatto Farms Milk Company, a family owned and operated business in Northern Missouri. Recently, Leroy was selected as the 2006 Missouri Small Business Person of the Year by the United States Small Business Administration.

Through hard work and the assistance of a Small Business Administration loan, the Shatto family has developed a very successful business. The Shatto Farms Milk Company produces ``pure'' milk with no added hormones, in a variety of flavors. The milk has grown quickly in popularity and is available in local grocery stores in Missouri and Kansas.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in recognizing Leroy and Barbara Shatto. Their entrepreneurial spirit and innovation in milk production are remarkable. I commend them for the achievement and I am honored to represent them in the United States Congress.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Lieutenant Colonel Dewayne L. Knott of St. Joseph, Missouri. He has served most recently as the Vice Commander of the 139th Medical Group of the Air National Guard based in St. Joseph. After 37 years of distinguished service, Lieutenant Colonel Knott is retiring from the Missouri Air National Guard.

The Lieutenant Colonel began his years of service in March of 1969 as an enlisted member of the United States Air Force. He served

dutifully in Kuwait during Desert Storm operations in 1991 and in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom from 2003 to 2004. He was recently decorated with Valor for his duty in Iraq.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in recognizing Lieutenant Colonel Dewayne L. Knott. His many years of distinguished service and commitment to serving his country have been an inspiration. I commend him for his service and I am honored to represent him in the U.S. Congress.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to posthumously recognize Larry L Harper of St. Joseph, Missouri. Mr. Harper was an outstanding Missourian with a passion for flying and his love of flying has remained an inspiration long after his passing. That passion will be memorialized by a statue, The Aviator, commissioned by his wife Carolyn and placed at Rosecrans Memorial Airport in St. Joseph, Missouri.

Larry's love of flying began at a young age, he would hang around the Rosecrans Airport offering to wash and fuel planes in exchange for flying lessons. While working as a mechanic, Larry eventually earned his pilots license. He logged over 30,000 hours in flight over 40 years of flying for four different companies in aircraft ranging from Aircoupes to Lear Jets. His last flight came just one week before his passing, as he jumped at the opportunity to fly a Lear 55, every flight was a special flight for him.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in recognizing Larry L Harper. He was a pilot whose passion for the skies inspired the many people whom he met. He has been missed, but his love of flying will never be forgotten and the commitment of his beloved wife Carolyn ensures that all who come to Rosecrans Airport will know his passion. I commend him for his spirit and commitment to aviation and I was honored to represent him in the United States Congress.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Mrs. Dean Byrd of St. Joseph, Missouri. As a long time citizen of St. Joseph, Mrs. Byrd will be celebrating her 80th birthday. She has seen many events over the past 80 years and awoke each day with a strong sense of family and community that improved the lives of everyone she has touched. Her life should be celebrated with the same joy and excitement in which she gives back to our community.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in recognizing Mrs. Dean Byrd. Throughout her 80 years, she has always given back more than was expected of her. Her life is an inspiration to many and I am proud to serve her in the United States Congress.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Paul A. White of the Mid-Continent Public Library in Independence, Missouri. Mr. White is retiring after 45 years of service to Missouri's public libraries.

Paul began his service as a Branch Assistant in the Kansas City Public Library in 1961. Over the next 45 years, Paul would make stops in the Missouri State Library, Springfield-Greene County Library, and the Kinderhook Regional Library before settling in the Mid-Continent Public Library in 1988.

Beyond his official responsibilities, Paul participates in the American Library Association serving as the Missouri Chapter Councilor, on the Constitution and By-Laws Committee and the Committee on Organization. He also participates in the Missouri Library Association where he has served as treasurer, secretary, vice president, and president. Paul is currently serving on the Missouri Library Network Corporation and various Missouri Library Association Committees.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in recognizing Paul A. White, an outstanding Missourian. His service to the community and dedication to Missouri's Public Libraries is greatly appreciated. He will certainly be missed and I would like to ask the House of Representatives to join me in thanking him for all of his hard work and dedication over the years. I am honored to represent him in the United States Congress.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Sharon Kosek of St. Joseph, Missouri. After long tenure in the St. Joseph, Missouri School District, Sharon will be retiring. Sharon has taught in the St. Joseph School District for the past 23 years and has recently been named the Association for Career and Technical Education Outstanding Teacher in Community Service. She has been a model of strong service and civic leadership.

Sharon has served as the Business Coordinator and Administrative Office Systems instructor at the Hillyard Technical Center, as well as the advisor for the Phi Beta Lambda adult business student organization. Outside of the classroom, Sharon has remained active in the ACTE, Missouri ACTE, National Business Education Association, and as the Legislative Chairperson for the St. Joseph Parent Teacher Association.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in recognizing Sharon Kosek. Her commitments to excellence in education and community service have remained as an inspiration to all of those people around her. She will certainly be missed and I would like to ask the House of Representatives to join me in thanking her for all of her hard work and dedication over the years. I am honored to represent her in the United States Congress.