Todd Rokita

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a veteran, business leader, pillar of the community, and close friend, Fred Fehsenfeld, Sr. Fred passed away on November 28 at the age of 94.

Fred was the epitome of the Greatest Generation. Fred was born in Indianapolis in 1924, the third of four brothers. Fred enrolled at Purdue University at the age of 17. He found a passion for flying, joining the Purdue Glider Club and learning from, among others, Amelia Earhart. Ever the patriot, on his 18th birthday, Fred left Purdue and enrolled in the Army Air Corps. Just a few months later, he was assigned to the 354th Pioneer Mustang Fighter Group in France, a famous fighter group of P5I Mustangs and P47 Thunderbolts. Fred flew 89 missions in Europe and was awarded the Air Medal with three silver clusters and a silver star.

After the war was over, Fred returned to Purdue and graduated with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering. Fred began his career at Rock Island Refining as a Process Engineer. A few years later, he was asked by his dad, to join the original family business, Crystal Flash Petroleum, a company that operated gas stations and sold home heating oil.

He then took over the business from his father and showed his true entrepreneurial spirit. He grew Crystal Flash Petroleum from 100 employees, operating gas stations and home heating oil sales in Indiana and Michigan into what has evolved as The Heritage Group. The Heritage Group currently employs 6,500 people around the world, with operations across

North America, Europe and China. In 2017, in recognition for his work on behalf of the State of Indiana, I-895 was renamed the ``Fred M. Fehsenfeld Highway.''

I know his passion for improving our highways firsthand. He knew that America needed to change how we managed traffic and freight movement. This knowledge led to the creation of Critical Commerce Corridors. Critical Commerce Corridors are a simple idea that we separate cars and trucks using physical barriers. Fred presented this idea to me, and his enthusiasm convinced me that this idea was something our country should pursue. It was because of him that Critical Commerce Corridors were included in the most recent highway bill reauthorization, passed into law in 2015.

Fred was a devoted, loving husband to his wife of 57 years, Midge Fehsenfeld, who passed away in 2003 and to his surviving wife, Barbara Fehsenfeld, of 15 years. He is survived by Barbara, brother Mac, five children, twenty grandchildren, and twenty-four great grandchildren. All of us who knew him and were impacted by his generosity, kindness, and loyalty will truly miss him. I ask everyone to keep his family in your prayers.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and salute fellow Hoosier Steven T. Reeder, an extraordinary teacher and citizen. Mr. Reeder has taught at Monrovia High School in Morgan County, Indiana, for twenty-years. He was recently awarded ``History Teacher of the Year'' by the Indiana Daughters of the American Revolution. This honor is well-deserved as his passion for teaching History is unmatched.

Colleagues, students, and members of the community have nothing but positive accolades when speaking about Mr. Reeder. I am told by his principal that students in his classes are on the edge of their seats each day from start to finish, and higher-level thinking is abundant. The classroom is filled with historical artifacts in a museum-like setting, but it is Mr. Reeder's ability to story-tell and cultivate critical thinking that makes his teaching style so special. In addition, he is known for hosting study groups after hours at local restaurants and also for lending support to students through small acts of kindness. It is no surprise that Mr. Reeder has been invited to the school's ``Top Ten Teachers Banquet'' every single year of his career at Monrovia High School.

Mr. Reeder's passion for history has not been limited to his classroom. He has been instrumental in leading students and residents of the community in unearthing information and artifacts about the town of Monrovia and its schools. He initiated and sponsors the organization ``Students for the School'' whose purpose is to research local history and make it visible in the community. As a result, artifacts celebrating the community's rich history in sports, agriculture, education, art, and the underground railroad have been displayed in multiple cases in the school and town library. The group was also responsible for establishing the town's first official Indiana Historical Marker celebrating the life of former-resident IU Basketball Coach Branch McCracken.

Mr. Reeder uses historical opportunities to encourage a sense of community for citizens in Monrovia. He has worked with local organizations on projects that recognize and honor area veterans and active-duty members of America's armed forces. He recently hosted classes for the public about Monrovia's history, and he currently is working with civic leaders to establish more historical markers at noteworthy sites in the area. The loyalty Mr. Reeder has for his community and school is commendable.

As the Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, & Secondary Education, I am especially honored to recognize Mr. Steve Reeder as one of Indiana's finest teachers. He embodies the true spirit of a dedicated and caring educator, and I wish him the very best as he continues to be a positive influence for generations to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Alessio ``Al'' Gizzi. Al passed away on November 25 from natural causes at the age of 97.

Born in Waterbury, Connecticut, Al lived nearly his entire life in Connecticut. As a part of the ``Greatest Generation'', he enlisted in the Marine Corps and fought during World War Two. Eventually rising to the rank of Sergeant, he saw action in the Pacific, and served until the war's end.

After his discharge, Al moved back to the Hartford, Connecticut area, joining the Teamsters Union and working as a deliveryman and route salesman for Mother's Pies and later for Table Talk Pies. He retired in 1983, but never one to enjoy the idleness of retirement, he rejoined the workforce and spent seven years at the Cigna Insurance Company in Bloomfield.

It was after his discharge that he married Roslyn Ann Guglielmetti, his wife of sixty-nine years. They were together until her death in 2014. They had one son, John. Al also leaves behind a sister, Mary, two nieces, a nephew, and two grand-nephews.

I knew Al through his son John. John, currently the White House reporter for Newsmax, is a master of politics, wit, and wisdom. He is a friend and quite literally my mentor. My first paid job in Washington, D.C. was that of his intern at the Human Events newspaper. John has been a fixture at White House press conferences and events, and is respected by everyone who has worked with him. I know Al counts John as one of his life's best accomplishments.

John's incredible strength will get him through this difficult time, and I ask everyone to keep John and his family in your thoughts and prayers.