October 12, 2018 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E1403 Specialist Valentine was assigned to the bition to serve children of all backgrounds re- HONORING THE SERVICE OF 2nd Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 4th Bri- gardless of race, economic status, religion or MELVIN ‘‘CORKY’’ GILLIAM gade, 2nd Infantry Division of the Stryker Bri- ability. Further, it strives to engage parents gade Combat Team from Fort Lewis, Wash- and families to create a strong collaborative HON. ington. Specialist Valentine was killed along community to support the educational experi- OF with two other soldiers on September 18, ences of their children. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 2007, in Muqdadiyah, Iraq, when an lED, an Friday, October 12, 2018 improvised explosive device, detonated near As a district, the SCESD has also made him. great strides in engaging students with twenty- Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to Mr. Speaker, you understand the use of an first century technology. Students in grades honor the service of Melvin Gilliam. Mr. Gilliam lED by America’s enemy is a coward’s way of third through sixth are assigned their own is a Korean War veteran who served the fighting the war. These enemies rant and rave laptop to complete homework and class as- of America honorably. and preach hate in the name of religion, but signments, while kindergarten through second In 1952, Melvin ‘‘Corky’’ Gilliam said good- they cover their faces with masks and hide in grade students use shared iPads to com- bye to his classmates at Chowchilla High and caves and dark, dusty ditches. They are afraid plement their learning experiences. Teachers traveled to Fort Ord for induction into the U.S. to come out in the open and face the Amer- are also empowered to use digital programs to Army. Gilliam was designated as a rifleman, and ican soldier. So our enemy detonates remote- accompany in-class instruction that has re- within a short time, he landed at Pusan, controlled bombs. sulted in immense progress for their students. Specialist Donald Valentine III’s military Korea. The young private was assigned to the roots run deep. His father, Donald II, is a Navy Through steadfast effort and wise use of re- 40th Infantry Division, participating in the Ko- veteran. His brother Daniel, who was 19 at the sources, the SCESD has facilitated upgrades rean War’s major battles at Heartbreak Ridge, time, wanted to enlist to be with his brother to numerous school facilities. Seven school the Punchbowl, and Sand Bag Castle. Donald in Iraq. America owes much to families sites have recently expanded outdoor play- In the following months, the 40th was sent like the Valentines. Being from a military fam- grounds, sustainability features, equipment into action along the Main Line of Resistance ily, he moved around a lot as a child. He lived and security systems to enhance the edu- (MLR) above the 38th Parallel at a place in Florida most of his life and also in Idaho, cational experiences of students. The SCESD called Sand Bag Castle. The division engaged but wanted to be buried in ‘‘Big H,’’ as he has assuredly continued its tradition of pur- in heavy fighting, and Private Melvin Gilliam was wounded by shell fragments. While recov- called Houston, Texas, because of many rea- suing projects that increase opportunity for the sons. One of those reasons was because he ering at an aid station, it was discovered that children of the Salinas Valley. spent so much time growing up with his he was only seventeen years old. He was sent grandparents who live in Houston. As the Salinas City Elementary School Dis- to Japan to Camp Drake where he remained Donald was married for one year to Lucia, trict celebrates its 150 years as a fundamental until his eighteenth birthday on 4 December who said ‘‘Donald had all the qualities any girl component of our community, I am proud to 1952. After his return to Korea, Gilliam served would want.’’ She had talked to Donald on commend them on their continued service to as rifleman, carrying the Browning Automatic their first anniversary, 3 days before his death the young scholars of the Central Coast. The Rifle and worked as a radio operator with line in Iraq. Specialist Valentine told his family that, schools and teachers within this district have units. ‘‘if he did not survive the war, they should stay undoubtedly created substantial impacts on In July 1953 Gilliam boarded the merchant strong.’’ He was the 91st fallen service mem- the lives of our future leaders. Mr. Speaker, I ship General Miggs for return to the U.S. For ber with ties to the Houston area to have been the remainder of his three-year enlistment, ask that my colleagues join me in congratu- killed in Iraq or Afghanistan. Gilliam served with the 2nd Division at Fort lating the Salinas City Elementary School Dis- A statement has been credited to one of Lewis, Washington. While at Fort Lewis, his Rome’s centurions when he told his troops, trict on 150 years of excellence. regiment was selected to star in the film ‘‘To ‘‘How you yet live will echo throughout eter- Hell and Back,’’ the true story of Audie Mur- nity.’’ Specialist Valentine lived a short but f phy, the most decorated soldier of World War faithful life to the things that were important to II. Gilliam was able to meet the soldier-actor, HONORING TATE RIGBY him: family and country. He was 21 when he and was honored to be part of the film, acting was killed. as a German rifleman. Before leaving active Mr. Speaker, General George Patton was duty, Gilliam would also serve with the 7th Ar- right about such warriors. We should thank HON. mored and the 44th Infantry Divisions. God that such men as Specialist Donald Val- OF MISSOURI Melvin Gilliam was discharged as a corporal entine III ever lived. and served five more years in the Army Re- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES And that’s just the way it is. serve. For his service he was awarded the f Friday, October 12, 2018 Purple Heart, the National Defense Service HONORING THE SALINAS CITY Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the Korean Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT Service Medal with 3 bronze stars, United Na- proudly pause to recognize Tate Rigby. Tate tions Service Medal, ROK Presidential Unit Ci- HON. JIMMY PANETTA is a very special young man who has exempli- tation, and the Combat Infantryman’s Badge. fied the finest qualities of citizenship and lead- To this day he is very proud to have served OF CALIFORNIA his country. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ership by taking an active part in the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 404, and earning After release from active duty he returned to Friday, October 12, 2018 the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout. Chowchilla and worked as a dairyman and in Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to trucking until his retirement. He and his late recognize the Salinas City Elementary School Tate has been very active with his troop, wife Loretta made their home in Chowchilla. District on their 150th anniversary. SCESD participating in many scout activities. Over the He has four children, six grandchildren and has demonstrated great dedication to our many years Tate has been involved with eight great-grandchildren. community and invaluable service to children scouting, he has not only earned numerous He has been active in the community for and families of the central coast of California. merit badges, but also the respect of his fam- more than a half-century as a member of the Founded in 1868, the SCESD began with ily, peers, and community. Most notably, Tate First Baptist Church, Life Member of nine students and quickly expanded to accom- has contributed to his community through his Chowchilla VFW Post 9896, Life Member of modate the growing Salinas Valley. The dis- Eagle Scout project. Tate partnered with the American Legion Post 148, a member of the trict has provided a well-rounded education Missouri Department of Conservation for a trail Military Order of the Cooties of the U.S., Lions and a safe learning environment for genera- project. Club International, Free and Accepted Masons tions of Central Coast families. Today, it pro- of Chowchilla, Scottish Rite of Freemasonry— vides free, high quality education to nearly Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in 32nd Degree, Tehran Shriners, the Noble No- nine thousand students at fourteen public commending Tate for his accomplishments bles Club of Tehran Temple, and E Clampus schools. with the Boy Scouts of America and for his ef- Vitus. The district’s belief in public education as forts put forth in achieving the highest distinc- Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me the foundation of democracy shapes their am- tion of Eagle Scout. in paying tribute to the service of Melvin

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:59 Oct 13, 2018 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00013 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\A12OC8.045 E12OCPT1 E1404 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks October 12, 2018 Gilliam for his dedication to family and coun- INTERNATIONAL DAY OF THE honoring the thousands of women across our try. GIRL nation who have been diagnosed, fighting, or have survived breast cancer. f HON. ROBIN L. KELLY Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the United States. It is the OF ILLINOIS JOHN E. BALES second deadliest cancer among American IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES women. 1 in 8 women will develop breast can- HON. Friday, October 12, 2018 cer over the course of her lifetime, and it is Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, today estimated that this year more than 252,000 OF COLORADO we recognize October 11th as the Inter- cases of invasive breast cancer is expected to IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES national Day of the Girl, a day to promote be reported. In Texas, 17,566 women were di- agnosed with breast cancer in 2018. Friday, October 12, 2018 girls’ empowerment and examine the chal- lenges and barriers girls face around the In the Second District of Texas, I am proud Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise world. According to the UN High Commission of our local hospitals, school districts, and today to recognize and applaud Golden Fire on Refugees, there are approximately 65 mil- non-profits who promote breast cancer aware- Chief John E. Bales for his many years of lion forcibly displaced people worldwide and ness and prevention during this month. Many service to the City of Golden and surrounding half are under the age of 18. Prolonged peri- are showing their support by replacing their communities. ods away from home result in low school en- outdoor light bulb with a pink bulb. I have no- For almost two decades, Chief Bales has rollment rates for displaced children, which ticed many front porch lights shining pink been active within the Golden community and leaves girls vulnerable to early marriage, around our town. These pink bulbs help sup- fire department. Chief Bales became Golden human trafficking, and child labor. The Pro- port a local nonprofit called Project Mammo- Fire Chief in 2001, but his personal passion tecting Girl’s Access to Education in Vulner- gram. Project Mammogram offers mammo- and a commitment to his community started able Settings Act, which myself and Congress- grams and other services free to patients in long before then. For more than 50 years, man CHABOT introduced, aims to ensure edu- the Lake Houston area. Remember, not every Chief Bales contributed to several Colorado cational needs of displaced girls are consid- woman can afford a mammogram. By pro- communities and other communities across ered in the design, implementation, and eval- viding free mammograms this organization has the country with positions at the Rocky Flats uation of U.S. foreign assistance. Girls per- saved thousands of women. Fire Department, Genesee Fire Protection Dis- form better in school when they have access Almost everyone we know has been trict, Cunningham Fire Protection District, City to quality education and a safe space to learn. touched by this disease. Unfortunately, this of Thornton Fire Department, and the Wichita International Day of the Girl, is a day to reflect disease has hit close to home for one of our Fire Department. His hard work and dedication on the importance of ensuring all children, es- very own community leaders, Leslie Raffa. has helped make our community—and so pecially girls, have access to safe, quality edu- Leslie and her husband, Tony, own two res- many others—a great place to live and work. cation. taurants in the Lake Houston area. They are well-loved and respected in the community. I extend my deepest thanks to Chief Bales f Leslie battled breast cancer for over two and for his service to our community. Thank you HONORING SAMUEL THOMAS a half years, her final treatment was in Feb- for your continuous dedication to serving the ruary 2017. During the course of her treat- people of Colorado. HON. SAM GRAVES ments, she underwent a bilateral mastectomy, breast reconstruction and chemotherapy. Dur- f OF MISSOURI IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ing her battle, Leslie lost her sister to breast HONORING STAFF SERGEANT cancer in the summer of 2016. Leslie contin- Friday, October 12, 2018 JACK J. PENDLETON ued to fight while mourning the death of her Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I sister. proudly pause to recognize Samuel Thomas. Leslie rang the monumental bell at MD An- HON. Samuel is a very special young man who has derson in April of 2016. The bell signifies the OF WASHINGTON exemplified the finest qualities of citizenship end to treatment. Ringing the bell is a celebra- tion. But Leslie soon realized that the end of IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES and leadership by taking an active part in the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 404, and earn- treatment is not necessarily the end. She Friday, October 12, 2018 ing the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout. thought if she would just get to the end and cross the finish line it would all be over. But Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, today I rise Samuel has been very active with his troop, she soon discovered an emotional fall out oc- to honor Staff Sergeant Jack Pendleton of participating in many scout activities. Over the curs. Cancer is hard mentally. It takes months, Yakima, who was posthumously awarded the many years Samuel has been involved with years, to recover. She shares this piece of ad- Medal of Honor for his service during World scouting, he has not only earned numerous vice for those going through what she went War II. merit badges, but also the respect of his fam- ily, peers, and community. Most notably, Sam- through, ‘‘it’s ok to have a pity party, but don’t In Germany in 1944, Sergeant Pendleton uel has contributed to his community through unpack and stay there.’’ Leslie exudes positive lost his life while drawing enemy gunfire away his Eagle Scout project. Samuel completed a energy and happiness, even during the lowest from his squad, and he was awarded the natural area for the Missouri Department of moments. She beat the odds that come along Medal of Honor one year later. He is the sole Conservation outdoor classroom. with this disease and tries her best to educate Medal of Honor recipient from Yakima. Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in those around her to get annual breast exams. I would like to thank U.S. Army Command commending Samuel for his accomplishments Now this is where I usually say: ‘‘And that’s Sergeant Major Ramon Dang. Two years ago, with the Boy Scouts of America and for his ef- just the way it is.’’ But Leslie’s story is not Sergeant Major Dang was touring our state to forts put forth in achieving the highest distinc- over. The same year she completed her last care for the graves of Medal of Honor recipi- tion of Eagle Scout. treatment, Hurricane Harvey devastated our ents when he discovered that Sergeant Pen- f area. Raffa’s Waterfront Grill was destroyed. dleton’s grave did not include an appropriate Friends and family gathered quickly around memorial. A memorial statue, a 6-foot granite OCTOBER IS NATIONAL BREAST them to help rebuild the restaurant that took sculpture, was subsequently dedicated at CANCER AWARENESS MONTH on 5 feet of water. Leslie didn’t flounder in pity Tahoma Cemetery on September 26th of this and give up; she put on her water boots and year. HON. TED POE gloves (I am sure they are pink) and began Sergeant Pendleton’s Medal of Honor cita- OF TEXAS the cleanup process. Raffa’s will open this tion reads, ‘‘[His] sacrifice enabled the entire IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES year, and our community cannot be any company to continue the advance and com- happier for Tony and Leslie. This month Leslie plete their mission at a critical phase of the Friday, October 12, 2018 will speak in front of hundreds of folks at the action.’’ He made the ultimate sacrifice for his Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, October is annual In the Pink Luncheon to share her sur- brothers-in-arms and our nation, and I urge National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. vival story. Stories like Leslie’s are an inspira- my colleagues to join me in honoring the This month is devoted to raising awareness tion and a reminder that we must keep up the memory of Staff Sergeant Jack Pendleton. and educating folks about breast cancer and fight until there is a cure.

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