Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I rise today to pay tribute to Jim and Dee Prelesnik, two patriotic Americans from Pueblo, Colorado. The couple are ardent supporters of our troops, and country, and I would like to join my colleagues here today in recognizing their tremendous display of patriotism before this body of Congress and this Nation.

After September 11, 2001, the American people rallied to support their fellow citizens by hanging American flags outside their homes and on their vehicles, writing letters to the troops, and wearing red, white and blue. While driving through Pueblo, I noticed one house in particular: The house of Jim and Dee Prelesnik. I was awed by their impressive display of flags and was at once struck by their unwavering patriotism and support of our troops.

Mr. Speaker, it is a privilege to recognize Jim and Dee for their exemplary display of love of country. They stood with their heads held high in one of our nations darkest hours, and support our troops at home and abroad. It is with great pleasure that I recognize them today before this body of Congress and this Nation. Thank you both. I will always remember your displays and words of support and optimism.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I rise today to pay tribute to Bill Dorn from Sterling, Colorado. Bill has been serving his country overseas for over ten years, and I would like to join my colleagues here today in recognizing his tremendous efforts before this body of Congress and this Nation.

Bill returned to Sterling after serving in the Navy in 1963, and soon thereafter began a construction business with his brothers. In 1974, he started his own business and was recognized for his architectural plans of two hotels with the Golden Crown award given by the Best Western Company to 35 of 2500 entrants every year. In 1989, Bill moved to Wiesbaden, Germany and began working for the US Army with the Community's Morale, Welfare, and Recreation Fund.

Bill has been widely recognized for his contributions to the Wiesbaden community by the Chief of US Veterans Affairs, the US Military Chief of Staff, the US Army Team of Excellence, the US Army Corps of Engineers, and the US Great Escape Community Club. In addition, the Army Corps of Excellence and the US Army Europe (USAREUR) have recognized The Wiesbaden community for four consecutive years. Each year, Bill's contributions were specifically mentioned in the organizations reports.

Mr. Speaker, it is a privilege to recognize Bill Dorn for his exceptional service to the US Army personnel serving in Germany. He has been widely recognized for his unwavering ability to get the job done, and the excellence with which he performs his duties. It is with great pleasure that I recognize him today before this body of Congress and this Nation. Thank you, Bill, for your hard work and good luck with all of your future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Dennis Maes, the Chief Judge of the Pueblo, Colorado, District Court. Dennis is a man of strong convictions whose upbringing and sense of dignity permeates his courtroom and ensures that the citizens of Pueblo receive fair consideration in the cases brought before his court. It is my privilege in recognizing Judge Maes' outstanding record of service before this body of Congress and this Nation.

Judge Maes was born in Trinidad and grew up in Walsenburg, Colorado where he was the eldest of eleven children. His father Leo Maes served five terms as Mayor of Walsenburg and championed issues affecting the Hispanic community. Dennis' parents taught him the value of a good education and instilled in him the idea that a community can only be as viable and credible as its citizens.

Judge Maes graduated from Colorado State University at Pueblo in 1967 and immediately accepted a teaching position with Gardner Middle School. Dennis was driven to continue his education and attended the University of Colorado School of Law in Boulder, Colorado. During his studies, Judge Maes was involved in the movement to bring equal rights to Hispanic Americans and advancing the civil rights agenda. After completing his law degree Dennis, returned to Pueblo working in the Pueblo County Legal Services, and the public defender's office before his appointment as Chief Judge of Colorado's 10th Judicial District by Governor Roy Romer in 1995.

Mr. Speaker, Dennis Maes is a dedicated judge who has made fairness and moral conviction the center of his life. The citizens of the Pueblo community have been blessed by his leadership for twenty-two years and I am honored to stand before this body of Congress and this Nation and recognize his impeccable record of service. Thank you for your service Dennis and I wish you all the best in your future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker it is with a sad heart that I rise to mourn the passing of Ronald Walden from Durango, CO. Ronald was a dedicated teacher and talented baseball coach and recruiter. It is my privilege to recognize and pay tribute to his service to the Durango community and the state of Colorado before this body of Congress and this Nation.

At age 15, Ronald was the youngest person ever certified to coach Little League Baseball. Ronald's interest in the sport grew, and when he graduated with a bachelor's and master's degree in education from Eastern Illinois University, he began coaching baseball and teaching at Durango High School. He amassed an impressive record of accomplishments as a coach, which included over 200 victories.

Ronald also served as a scout for several Major League Baseball teams, and additionally worked with the University of Arizona, and Arizona State coaches to recruit quality players. His love for the Durango area, and the kids that he coached was evident with his volunteering in the community. Ronald wrote the grant for the Drivers Simulator and Range for Charleston High School, and authored a new health, saftey and driver education program for Durango that was used as a model for other state programs.

Mr. Speaker, Ronald Walden was a dedicated coach who put his heart and soul into his love for baseball and bettering his Durango community. The student body and faculty of Durango High School will surely miss his guidance and enthusiasm for life and the sport of baseball. My heart goes out to his family during this difficult time of bereavement.

Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I rise to mourn the passing of Kay Williams from Glenwood Springs, Colorado. Kay recently passed away at the age of ninety this past Monday. She was known for her strong, independent will, unique sense of humor and avid enthusiasm for sports. As her family and friends mourn this loss, I believe it is appropriate to remember Kay and pay tribute to her memory before this body of Congress and Nation today.

Kay was born in Ontario, Canada, and educated in Windsor, Toronto and Florence, Italy. Her family often spent the winter months of the year in Naples, Florida, fishing for mangrove snapper, grouper and pompano. During

one of these trips, Kay met her husband Hank whom she married in 1941. As a wedding gift, Hank purchased a ranch in Canyon Creek, Colorado where they settled and operated a dairy cattle operation dubbed the H- Lazy-K. What initially started as a cattle ranch expanded into other areas including a successful guest ranch. Kay operated her Rock-n-Pines Guest Ranch until her death.

Kay was a sports enthusiast who took pleasure in golfing, fishing, and bowling, and was a devoted Denver Broncos and Colorado Rockies fan. In her spare time, she also enjoyed traveling, reading, knitting, and arranging flowers. Kay had a generous heart and told endearing stories to everyone she knew. She bettered the lives of those around her, and played host to many patrons of the guest ranch over the years.

Mr. Speaker, we are all terribly saddened by the loss of Kay Williams, though take comfort in the knowledge that our grief is overshadowed only by the legacy of kindness and generosity that Kay has left with us. I know that many throughout our state who had the chance to benefit from the opportunity of meeting Kay will miss her kind heart and generous spirit. My thoughts and prayers go out to her friends and family during this difficult time of bereavement.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Harry Ballard Harris, an outstanding gentleman and dedicated community member of Cisco, Utah. Harry has led a full life, including eighty years working as a cowboy and rancher and thirty years working for the State Highway Department of Utah. He recently celebrated his ninetieth birthday and it is a privilege to recognize his contributions to his community and his zest for life before this body of Congress and this Nation.

Harry grew up in Elgin, Utah, and began working as a ranch hand driving cattle at the age of sixteen. He worked for the Utah State Highway Department for thirty years in a remote area where sanding was shoveled by hand and medical care was not readily accessible. As a result, Harris became both a part-time medic and deputy sheriff. In 1975 he was awarded the outstanding male employee for his service to the state.

Harry also took river sediment samples for the Moab U.S. Geological Survey and received the John Campanius Holm award and the Thomas Jefferson award for providing weather information to the National Weather Service for more than thirty-seven years. He also served his community as an election judge and part-time school board member.

Harry married Wava Robb in 1937 and together they ran a small service station and the post office, where they encountered many interesting people from all over the world. There is even a Johnny Cash song that was inspired by an adventure in Cisco when Harry helped him change a flat tire.

After his wife's death in 1969, he married Ruth Maxine a few years later. Through their joint role working at the highway 128 service station they were named the 1986-1987 Tourism Ambassadors for the Canyonlands Travel Region. They promoted the area through colorful signs that talked of the scenic attractions of the area, recreational opportunities, locations of local churches and services to tourists and natives alike.

Mr. Speaker, Harry Ballard Harris is an outstanding member of his local Utah community who has served his local government and the people of Utah with dedication and pride for several years and remains a constant fixture of the lives of the people around him. I am honored to stand before this body of Congress and this Nation to recognize his life and service. Thanks for all your hard work Harry and I look forward to congratulating you on your 100th birthday!

Mr. Speaker, I rise to mourn the passing of a kind and caring woman from my district. Lotte Bresnitz, a longtime community activist and dedicated nurse recently passed away at the age of eighty- five in Aspen, Colorado. She was a kind and generous soul and it is a privilege to recognize her life and service before this body of Congress and this Nation today.

Lotte was born in Nuremberg, Germany and immigrated to the United States in 1938, where she made her home in Cincinnati. She studied to become a registered nurse, and during her studies met and eventually married Kurt Bresnitz. After Kurt was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army, the couple moved to Denver where Lotte took a job as the head nurse in the emergency room at Rose Memorial Hospital. In 1950, while Lotte and Kurt were on vacation in Aspen, they fell in love with the town and decided to relocate. Lotte worked as the head nurse at the Aspen Hospital and Kurt opened a Jewelry Store. After the birth of their two children, John and Carol, Lotte retired to become a full-time mother and continued to volunteer with organizations like the League of Women Voters, and the Senior Citizens Council.

Mr. Speaker, Lotte Bresnitz was an endearing woman whose five decades of volunteer work throughout the Aspen community made her one of the most recognizable faces in the area. I am honored to stand before this body of Congress and this Nation today to recognize her outstanding record of service. My thoughts and prayers go out to her friends and family at this difficult time of bereavement.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize Shirley Bowen as she embarks on a well-deserved retirement from Colorado Mountain College. Shirley has served the college for almost four decades and her leadership has made a significant difference in the development of Colorado state policy, testing procedure, and state-wide curriculum. It is my pleasure to congratulate Shirley before this

body of Congress and this Nation on a job well done.

Shirley began at Colorado Mountain College as a secretary and was later promoted to director of the college's Carbondale operations before she became the associate dean of Developmental Education and Special Programs in 1991. In that role, she has been instrumental in facilitating developmental education program that transforms the lives of students everyday. Shirley is known for her excellent managerial skills and has lead her peers and colleagues by example.

Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to bring Shirley Bowen to the attention of my colleagues before this venerable body. I would like to join all the Colorado Mountain College faculty, students, and administration in wishing Shirley luck in a happy and productive retirement. Administrators like Shirley who embody the passion of teaching our nation's youth are an invaluable asset to this community and I am sure that everyone at Colorado Mountain College will miss her. Congratulations, Shirley, and I wish you all the best in your future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Celia Dunham, a talented and dedicated teacher who has been nominated for the Colorado State Board of Education's 2005 Teacher of the Year award. Celia has demonstrated a strong passion and devotion to educating our youth in one of our most important occupations for 31 years. It is a privilege to stand here today before this body of Congress and this Nation and honor her impeccable record of service.

Celia's initial decision to become a teacher came from her experience with a pilot program teaching inner city kids in college. It was here that she learned the important difference that teachers make everyday in the lives of their students--a mantra that continues to influence her teaching today. Celia is a firm advocate of engaging students, parents and teachers in a partnership to allow students to achieve their full potential. To attain that goal, she has worked to create caring, respectful environments that encourage kids to take responsibility for their own learning. Her position as a role model for her students epitomizes the positive attitude about education that is necessary for a successful teacher.

Over the course of Celia's work in Steamboat Springs, she has been heavily involved with planning place-based education that builds student appreciation for the culture and heritage of their community. She also contributed significantly to the development of a K through 12 standards-based curriculum that concentrates on individual, on-going assessments that meets academic goals early in a student's career to make them successful in the future. The program is a proven success as the Colorado Student Assessment Program scores for Celia's school are consistently above the state average, and the school has been recognized twice as a Colorado School of Excellence.

Mr. Speaker, Celia Dunham is an intelligent, caring and devoted teacher who always puts her students first. Her commitment to the teaching profession is unremitting and it would be a great honor for Colorado to be blessed with her continued leadership as Colorado's 2005 Teacher of the Year. I am honored to stand before this body of Congress and this Nation today and recognize her longstanding dedication to the teaching profession. Thank you for your service Celia, and I wish you all the best in your future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to bring attention to the story of a former constituent whose anions in Iraq are a testament to our nation's armed forces. Justin Fletcher, a brave and courageous soldier in the U.S. Army, selflessly put himself in the line of fire to defend America's security interests and ensure a free Iraq. It is a privilege to recognize the dedication and sacrifice of this fine young man before this body of Congress and this Nation.

Justin was flying an observation run over Tal Afar, the Iraqi city sixty miles from the Syrian border, with his commander Stephen Suhr when they were shot down by a hand-held rocket launcher forcing them to make a crash landing. The two soldiers quickly got out of the crashed Kiowa Warrior observation helicopter, found their guns and removed themselves from the line of fire.

After discovering their ammunition was at the crash site, Justin provided cover while Stephen recovered the ammunition. The two soldiers were able to make their way to a U.S. Stryker vehicle where they were stranded for over two and a half hours fighting off insurgents. During the encounter, Justin suffered a broken back, a broken tooth, and a laceration on his face. He received the Purple Heart for those wounds he sustained during combat.

Mr. Speaker, Justin Fletcher is a dedicated soldier who has taken time away from his family and friends to put himself in harms way to defend America and preserve the ideals of freedom. It is a privilege to recognize his courage and conviction here today before this body of Congress and this Nation. Thank you for your service Justin, and I wish you a speedy recovery.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Rick Hanson, a strong-willed individual

who has persevered through near insurmountable physical challenges and provides inspiration to his fellow citizens. I am proud to stand here with my colleagues before this body of Congress and this Nation and recognize his triumph of will, and strength of conviction.

During Rick's early teens, it was discovered he had a brain tumor. Rick's condition continued to worsen, and doctors and family members feared he would not pull through. Eventually, Rick was diagnosed with a rare condition of adrenal insufficiency, and his hormone and hydrocortisone treatments have helped him finally turn the corner. After twenty-five years of illness, at age forty-three, Rick on the road to recovery, is taking therapeutic horseback riding lessons, a pastime that he enjoyed as a child growing up in Arkansas.

Mr. Speaker, Rick Hanson's unrelenting will and sheer determination has helped him to stave off illness in the face of the gravest of circumstances. His story of improvement is an inspiration to us all, and I am honored by the opportunity to recognize his accomplishments before this body of Congress and this Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Ken Reyher, colorful storyteller, author, and performer from Olathe, Colorado who educates his fellow citizens about the history of the America's beginnings in the West. Ken is an excellent teacher who stimulates his listeners interest in our Nation's history, and it is my privilege in recognizing his service and passion for history before this body of Congress and this Nation.

Ken is an avid historian, and former schoolteacher who reenacts the Western lifestyle by hiking the old trapper trails in authentic clothing from the 1830's. He shares his experiences and understanding of Western Colorado in a couple of performances every month, including using his own cowboy poetry and costumes. Additionally, Ken has published several books and magazine articles on the subject. Growing up on a cattle ranch in Southeast Colorado as a kid, Ken has always had a passion for the West and believes that it is important that history is passed on from generation to generation.

Mr. Speaker, Ken Reyher is a man who has developed his passion into a wonderful learning tool for children and adults of all ages that yearn to discover the mysteries of the American West. I am honored to recognize such a dedicated teacher and storyteller before this body of Congress and this Nation. Thanks for your passion and your service to Colorado, Ken, and I wish you all the best in your future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Jack Quinn, the Director of the Housing Authority for the City of Pueblo, Colorado who has dedicated his life to improving the lives of others in need. It is a privilege to stand before this body of Congress and this Nation and recognize his outstanding record of service to the Pueblo community today.

Jack grew up in Connecticut and graduated from Fairfield University with a degree in Chemistry, but his life took a different path when he took a volunteer job with the Catholic Diocese of Pueblo. After teaching grade school Jack found his passion working with the Pueblo Housing Authority where he has served with distinction for thirty-six years.

Today, he and his sixty-five person staff manage 2,500 housing units in the city. They are responsible for renovating several Pueblo properties and turning them into affordable housing for low-income families, preserving historical landmarks in the process. In addition to his work with the Housing Authority, Jack spends his spare time serving on local boards such as the United Way, the Packard Foundation and the Boys Club.

Mr. Speaker, Jack Quinn is a dedicated member of his community who has made a difference in the lives of his fellow citizens. I am honored to stand before this body of Congress and this Nation and recognize his exemplary record of service. Thanks for all your hard work Jack, and I wish you all the best in your future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Al and Joanna Lacy, a retired Baptist minister and his wife who have authored numerous educational books for children. The research and historical background that Al and Joanna present in these books have helped educate kids about American history and simultaneously encourages them to read. Today I have the privilege of recognizing their service before this body of Congress and this Nation.

After retiring from thirty-two years of traveling as a pastor, Al decided he wanted to write novels. Al first started with Western themes and expanded into narratives that covered religious experiences, the Civil War, the gold rush era, immigration through Ellis Island, and the lives of orphan street children. Joanna also contributed to her husband's work with her extensive background in nursing. They have spent countless hours traveling, researching, and talking with people to learn more about the local cultures and customs for the settings in their books, which makes them a source of education and excitement for young readers. Together they have made the best seller list numerous times in publishing over 102 works.

Mr. Speaker, Al and Joanna Lacy have contributed much toward the education and learning of numerous children all across the country, giving parents a reliable source of entertainment for their kids. I am honored to recognize the accomplishments of Al and Joanna before this body of Congress and this Nation. Thank you, Al and Joanna for all your hard work, and I wish you both all the best in your future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, it is with a sad heart that I rise to pay tribute to the passing of a great man from my district. John Stavast, a native of Denver, Colorado, recently passed away at the age of 78. Colonel Stavast dedicated 33 years of his life the armed services, in both the Army and Air Force. I am honored today to bring his contributions to the attention of this body of Congress and this Nation.

John joined the Army in 1944 and served in Europe during World War II as a gunner on B-17s. He was discharged in 1946 and enlisted again in 1949 earning his pilots wings. John trained Japanese Self Defense Force pilots in the USAF Air Training Command. While flying over North Vietnam in 1967, Colonel Stavast and his crewmate were shot down near Hanoi. Both men safely ejected and were taken prisoner. He endured torture for seven full days after his capture and remained a POW until 1972. During his time in the POW camp, the colonel, as the senior ranking officer, was responsible for over 200 American POW's at the prison near the Chinese border.

Colonel Stavast suffered numerous injuries during his imprisonment including broken bones in his back, arms and legs, and a skull fracture. He had over 6,000 flying hours when retired from the Air Force in 1980, and was awarded many medals for his service. These include three Silver Stars, two Legions of Merit, three Distinguished Flying Crosses, two Purple Hearts, the Bronze Star for Valor, and six Air Medals. After his retirement he was a member of the Military Officers Association, the Military Order of the Purple Heart, VFW, American Legion, and others. He was also a dedicated volunteer at the Veterans Administration Hospital.

Mr. Speaker, John Stavast was a dedicated patriot that selflessly served his community and country, and I am honored to pay tribute to his memory. He will be greatly missed. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family.