9640 Hon. Benjamin L. Cardin Hon. Sonny Callahan Hon

9640 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS June 6, 2000 TRIBUTE TO THE MAKE-A-WISH This is just a small sampling of the duties vis award for professional competence and in- FOUNDATION ON ITS 20TH ANNI- performed by the Coast Guard. We all owe spirational leadership. VERSARY them a huge debt of gratitude for the services Mr. Speaker, I know my colleagues join me they provide. in congratulating Commander Al Bernard on HON. BENJAMIN L. CARDIN For 24 years, Commander Bernard has an illustrious military career. Likewise, we sa- faithfully performed these and other duties in OF MARYLAND lute his wonderful wife, Ann, and their two chil- service to our great country. Prior to donning dren, Jason and Bernadette, who made the IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES the Coast Guard uniform, Commander Ber- many sacrifices military families make in sup- Tuesday, June 6, 2000 nard was also a proud U.S. Marine, where he porting their husband and father all these Mr. CARDIN. Mr. Speaker, today I pay spe- served as an infantryman in Southeast Asia. years. We wish Al the best of luck in all his cial tribute to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, He has spent more than half of his life in serv- future endeavors, for he is truly a fine example which is celebrating the 20th anniversary of its ice to this nation and today, we are a grateful for all Americans. founding. A non-profit organization that has 82 nation for his sacrifice. f chapters nationwide, the Foundation is the From his humble beginnings operating small 56TH ANNIVERSAY OF D-DAY oldest, largest and most-respected wish-grant- boats as a coxswain to his assignment as liai- ing organization in the world. Since its found- son officer to the House of Representatives in ing, it has fulfilled the wishes of 60,000 chil- Washington, Commander Bernard has per- HON. BENJAMIN A. GILMAN dren between the ages of 2 and 18 who suffer formed each and every job as a true patriot. OF NEW YORK He quickly rose through the ranks of the from life-threatening illnesses. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Coast Guard and in 1979, he was accepted to The Mid-Atlantic chapter was established in Tuesday, June 6, 2000 Officer Candidate School. After receiving his 1983 by concerned Maryland citizens who had commission, Al’s first assignment was as a se- Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to take this heard about how the Foundation began with curity officer at Training Center New York, opportunity to bring to the attention of our col- the granting of a wish of a 7-year-old boy with Governors Island. Just a year later, he was leagues that today, June 6th , marks the 56th leukemia in Arizona. Since then, the Mid-At- promoted to First Lieutenant and deck watch anniversary of the D-Day invasion, known as lantic chapter has fulfilled the wishes of more officer on the USCGC Courageous, in Cape Operation Overlord. than 3,000 children from Maryland, Delaware, Canaveral, Florida. He was then chosen to be It was 56 years ago today that a miracle of Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C. Now executive officer of the USCGC Shearwater in liberation began. On that morning, democ- one of the four largest chapters based on the Key West, Florida. In addition, he was made racy’s forces landed to end the enslavement number of wishes granted, the Mid-Atlantic the senior controller at the Pacific Area/Twelfth of Europe. This miracle took place on the chapter has grown from granting only three USCG District Rescue Coordination Center. shores of Normandy, as 150,000 troops en- wishes its first year, to more than 300 in the From there, Al Bernard’s military career sky- gaged in the largest amphibious invasion in fiscal year 1998. rocketed. He received command of his first history. Some historians have gone so far as Deeply committed to granting the wishes of ship, the USCGC Nantucket, in Roosevelt to acclaim the liberation effort as the greatest each approved child, the Foundation depends Roads, Puerto Rico. It should be noted that Al military invasion in the history of mankind. Re- on not only the service of more than 13,000 is the first American of Puerto Rican descent gardless of the label placed on the invasion, volunteers, but also the support of individual to command his own ship. the D-Day invasion unarguably 2 represents a and group donations, corporate and small Due to his exceptional abilities, Commander noble effort to uphold democracy and free business contributions, foundation grants, Bernard was relocated to Washington to serve mankind from the evils of oppression and tyr- community events, and Wish Friends Inc., a his country at USCG Headquarters. He later anny. non-profit organization that produces events received command of another cutter, the Operation Overlord did not represent the and other developmental programs to benefit USCGC Citrus, which was homeported in selfish interests of one nation. Rather, it was the Foundation. Coos Bay, OR. After finishing another produc- a humanitarian effort that required the unifica- I hope that my colleagues will join me in sa- tive tour, he was made chief, Cutter Manage- tion of soldiers from many nations. American, luting the Make-A-Wish Foundation for its ef- ment Branch, Coast Guard Pacific Area in Ala- British, French, and Canadian soldiers united forts and success on the behalf of children meda, California. in a fight for freedom and liberation of not only over the past 20 years, and congratulating While on duty in California, he was selected a nation but of a multicultural, diverse con- Ralph A. Nappi, Jr., President of the Mid-At- to attend the U.S. Naval War College, where tinent. Rallied by this universal goal, General lantic chapter of the Foundation, and the en- he graduated with distinction, earning a Mas- Dwight D. Eisenhower told his troops: ‘‘We will tire chapter for their tireless work in ensuring ter of Arts Degree in National Security and accept nothing less that full victory.’’ Victory the fulfillment of each child’s wish. Strategic Studies. for Eisenhower and the allied troops was not f Upon graduation, Commander Bernard was just to win, it was to uphold and give back the given his third command, the USCGC Deci- unalienable rights that Nazi tyranny stole from SALUTE TO COMMANDER AL sive in St. Petersburg, Florida; he later BERNARD the people. crossdecked to the USCGC Resolute. The attainment of such a goal did not come Most recently, he was selected in 1998 to without sacrifice. 6,600 Americans were killed HON. SONNY CALLAHAN become the liaison officer to the House of and many more wounded. OF ALABAMA Representatives in Washington, where I can Mr. Speaker, it is appropriate that all Ameri- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES personally attest he has served every man cans should join in honoring the lives that and woman who wears the Coast Guard uni- Tuesday, June 6, 2000 were sacrificed in that noble battle to facilitate form with great distinction. an environment in which oppression and tyr- Mr. CALLAHAN. Mr. Speaker, I would like to Over the course of his 24 years of service anny do not prevail. ask my colleagues to join me in honoring a to the United States, Commander Bernard has Accordingly, I urge all of our colleagues to man of outstanding accomplishment, Com- demonstrated his versatility by serving bril- join in paying tribute to this red letter day in mander Al Bernard. liantly in both the military and legislative are- history. Commander Bernard is retiring from the nas. Al Bernard has been recognized for his United States Coast Guard this week, and I achievements with numerous awards, such as f would like to call attention to his extraordinary the Bronze Star with ‘‘V’’ device for valor, the TRIBUTE TO CATHERINE G. ANTON and meritorious service to his country. Purple Heart, and Meritorious Service Medal Mr. Speaker, as you know, the Coast Guard with an ‘‘O’’ device. He has also received HON. RICHARD E. NEAL is an invaluable branch of the United States seven Coast Guard Commendation Medals OF MASSACHUSETTS military. The men and women of our Coast with ‘‘O’’ device, the Coast Guard Achieve- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Guard keep our waters free of narcotics and ment Medal, the Combat Action Ribbon and illegal aliens, perform almost all of the search various other awards. Tuesday, June 6, 2000 and rescue missions for the United States and He was also selected as the 1989 recipient Mr. NEAL of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, I provide security and safety in our waterways. of the U.S. Navy League’s Captain David Jar- rise today to pay special tribute to Cathy VerDate jul 14 2003 14:33 Sep 16, 2004 Jkt 079102 PO 00000 Frm 00016 Fmt 0689 Sfmt 9920 E:\BR00\E06JN0.000 E06JN0.

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