May 24, 2006 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E957 and includes representatives from more than Basilica during its bicentennial year of celebra- ors. From the Emerson Family to Marlys 70 national medical specialty and state med- tion and in expressing our sense of pride that Smith, we say thank you, and we pray you ical societies. The Consortium seeks to pro- the Basilica is part of our Nation’s history. continue to spread your wonderful gifts for vide physician performance measures for both f years and years to come. the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Serv- TRIBUTE TO MRS. MARLYS SMITH ices and for specialty boards. He was the first f to show how an electronic health record can be used to improve adherence to the Consor- HON. JO ANN EMERSON PERSONAL EXPLANATION tium’s physician performance measures. Dr. OF Hellman is the AMA representative for the IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Joint Commission on Accreditation of HON. CLIFF STEARNS Healthcare Organizations Advisory Group for Wednesday, May 24, 2006 OF FLORIDA Disease-Specific Care Certification and serves Mrs. EMERSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES on the National Diabetes Quality Improvement to honor Mrs. Marlys Smith, a teacher at Mat- Wednesday, May 24, 2006 Alliance’s Technical Expert Panel. He is also thews Elementary School in Sikeston, Mis- currently on the AMA expert panel on medica- souri. Marlys is retiring after 31 years of serv- Mr. STEARNS. Mr. Speaker, I missed the tion reconciliation. ice in Missouri’s Public Schools. following vote due to a personal reason. In short, Mr. Speaker, Dr. Richard Hellman Marlys was born on November 18th, 1952, On rollcall vote No. 162 to H. Res. 795, is a dedicated community leader in the med- on the Marine Base at Quantico, Virginia, to Condemning in the strongest terms the ter- ical field who is extremely well qualified to as- Monda and Jim Davis. The oldest of six chil- rorist attacks in Dahab and Northern Sinai, sume a leadership position with the 5,300 dren, she spent her early years in Mississippi Egypt, on April 24 and 26, 2006, had I been member-American Association of Clinical County, Missouri, and graduated from East present I would have voted ‘‘yes.’’ Endocrinologists. I am pleased to have this Prairie High School. She went on to receive opportunity to bring his accomplishments to her undergraduate degree in Elementary Edu- f the attention of the House and to pay tribute cation from Southeast Missouri State Univer- to him as he assumes this new position of sity in 1975. Later, she obtained her Masters HONORING LTC JOHNNY M. trust and achievement. Degree from William Woods University in Ful- SUMMERS f ton, Missouri. As a young girl of 10, Marlys contracted a TRIBUTE TO THE BASILICA OF disabling bone disease that caused her to be HON. JIM GIBBONS THE ASSUMPTION hospitalized for nearly three months. Because OF NEVADA of the radical surgery she needed, she lost the IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ability to use her right hip, until extensive cor- HON. BENJAMIN L. CARDIN Wednesday, May 24, 2006 OF rective surgery in the last year. Rather than IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES allow this physical impairment to hinder her in Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to any way, she turned her energy from outdoor take this opportunity to recognize Lieutenant Wednesday, May 24, 2006 activities to music. The young girl from Mis- Colonel (LTC) Johnny M. Summers, Outgoing Mr. CARDIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with sissippi County who became a teacher and Commander, Hawthorne Army Depot located my colleagues from Maryland: ROSCOE BART- taught everything from high school special in Hawthorne, Nevada. LTC Summers took LETT, , WAYNE GILCHREST, education to first, third and sixth grades also command of the Depot in June of 2004. On , C.A. , had time to develop her voice. She sang with May 13, 2005, the Base Realignment and Clo- and ALBERT WYNN to pay ‘‘Young Americans in Concert’’ in New York at sure (BRAC) Commission recommended clos- special tribute to America’s first Catholic Ca- Carnegie Hall, in Europe, and also for Presi- ing the Depot. Soon afterward, Hawthorne re- thedral, the Basilica of the Assumption in Balti- dent Nixon in the White House in the summer alized an ‘‘Army of One’’ is all you really need. more, which has undergone a two-year res- of 1971. And then in 1993, my late husband, From the onset, LTC Summers realized the toration in preparation for its bicentennial cele- Congressman , invited this beau- selection criteria used for recommendation to bration on November 4, 2006. tiful, young lady to sing ‘‘Amazing Grace’’ to close Hawthorne had significant flaws. He The Basilica was the first great metropolitan 4000 participants at the National Prayer maintained that it would be a strategic mistake Cathedral in America and the first major reli- Breakfast in Washington DC. She again to close the depot due to its significant storage gious building to be constructed following the shared her voice in a rendition of ‘‘Amazing capability, highly skilled workforce, combat ter- adoption of the U.S. Constitution. The con- Grace’’ in 1996 at Bill’s funeral in Missouri and rain training opportunities, and modern reproc- struction of the Basilica reflected a funda- in Statuary Hall in the U.S. Capitol. essing facilities. mental shift in how government viewed reli- Marlys Smith, the school teacher, has been LTC Summers ensured that BRAC Commis- gious freedom—a shift from worship in an es- a Girl Scout Leader, Sunday School teacher sioners were provided with the correct data, tablished church to worship that was based on and a mentor to thousands of girls and boys which countered the recommendation to close the individual’s choice and conscience. It in Southern Missouri and a friend to all who the Depot. Thanks in large part to the accu- stands as a reminder of America’s openness have known her. And I count myself as one of rate information provided by LTC Summers, those friends. Marlys and her husband, Lloyd, to people of all faiths. the Commissioners and their colleagues un- Designed by Benjamin Henry Latrobe, archi- who is my Chief of Staff, are family. We have derstood the mistakes and the true value the tect of the U.S. Capitol, the Basilica is consid- shared many wonderful and tearful times over Depot provides the Department ered an architectural masterpiece and one of the last 25 years. of Defense. the finest 19th Century buildings in the world. Although Marlys has been a leader in her The Basilica in , home to the coun- field and a dedicated volunteer in a host of Thanks to LTC Summers’ tireless efforts, try’s first Catholic Archdiocese, is designated groups, her most special role has been that of the BRAC Commission agreed the evidence as a National Historic Landmark and National a wife to Lloyd and mother to their three chil- presented showed the Hawthorne Army Depot Shrine. dren, Trista, Sam and Tiffany. A working mom has great economic and strategic significance We commend the Archdiocese for under- who, because of her husband’s travels, was that justify keeping it open. His efforts were taking a major restoration of this extraordinary many times the only one at home to go to certainly instrumental in our success. religious and civic landmark. After decades of scouts, ball games and church events or to I commend this great commander upon his slow deterioration, the Basilica is finally being help with homework. She never complained retirement from the United States Army on restored to its original grandeur. In the future, and always has a smile on her face. Indeed September 30, 2006, for his exceptional, dedi- Americans of all faiths will be able to visit this the young girl who nearly died at age 10 cated service to the Hawthorne Army Depot, historic treasure and reflect on its history and turned into a beautiful woman who has shown the great State of Nevada and our country. I its place in our Nation’s struggle for religious a zest for life and shared her love with all extend to him my best wishes for continued freedom. those who have known her. excellence in his future endeavors. We hope our colleagues in the House will I congratulate Marlys on her retirement and Thank you, Lieutenant Colonel Summers, join the Maryland Delegation in honoring the wish her the best in all of her future endeav- for your time and service.

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