August 1, 2012 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E1375 Origen Monsanto, interning in the office of attitude; Belmontes was known for stepping up Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join me Rep. DAVID SCOTT, attending Southern Poly- to the plate and helping out whenever he was in honoring the HCFW of Cleveland, OH, for technic State University; needed. PFC Belmontes accomplished so all of their dedication and service to the com- Khristopher Nicholas, interning in the office much during his short time and he will be munity. of Rep. ALCEE HASTINGS, attending Columbia dearly missed by his unit and all who knew f University; him. PFC Belmontes served honorably, earn- Matthew Norwood, interning in the office of ing many awards and decorations including IN RECOGNITION OF EUGENE Rep. JOHN LEWIS, attending Dartmouth Col- the Purple Heart, the Army Achievement MORGAN WELSH lege. Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Jasmine Omeke, interning in the office of one star, the National Defense Service Medal, HON. DENNIS A. CARDOZA Rep. JESSE JACKSON JR., attending Harvard the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Serv- OF University. ice Ribbon and the Combat Action Badge. He IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Brittany Porter, interning in the office of is survived by his wife, mother, and father. Wednesday, August 1, 2012 Rep. , attending Hampton As we look at the incredibly rich military his- University; tory of our country we realize that this history Mr. CARDOZA. Mr. Speaker, it is with great Jeremy Ratcliff, interning in the office of is comprised of men, just like PFC Belmontes, sadness that I rise today to honor the late Eu- Rep. , II, attending Living- who bravely fought for the ideals of freedom gene Morgan Welsh. Gene passed away stone College; and democracy. Each story is unique and peacefully on July 25, 2012. Staff Sgt. Gene Amir Rowe, interning in the office of Rep. humbling for those of us who, far from the Welsh was a true American hero and served CHARLES RANGEL, attending St. John’s Univer- dangers they have faced, live our lives in rel- his country with pride and dedication. sity; ative comfort and ease. The day the Eugene ‘‘Gene’’ Morgan Welsh was born Shannon Schoultz, interning in the office of Belmontes family learned of their husband and May 9, 1925 in McAllister, OK to William Mor- Rep. JAMES CLYBURN, attending American Uni- son’s death was probably the hardest day they gan Welsh and Tina Pearl Welsh. Gene had versity; have ever faced and our thoughts, prayers two brothers, Kenneth and Billy Welsh, who Kaleese Shepperd, interning in the office of and deepest gratitude for their sacrifice go out preceded him in death, brother Don and a sis- Rep. BOBBY L. RUSH, attending Western Illi- to them. There are no words that can relieve ter Wanda Griffith. nois University; their pain and what words we can offer only Proudly at age 18, Gene joined the U.S. Jason Sneed, interning in the office of Rep. begin to convey our deep respect and highest Army’s 19th Infantry Regiment during World , attending University of Southern appreciation. War II. Staff Sgt. Welsh’s assignment took him California; PFC Belmontes’ family have all given a part to the South Pacific. While serving in the Asi- Travis Stanislaus, interning in the office of of themselves in the loss of their loved one atic Pacific, Staff Sgt. Welsh was wounded in Rep. EDOLPHUS TOWNS, attending Cornell Uni- and we hope they know that the goodness he combat and was eventually awarded the Pur- versity; brought to this world and the sacrifice he has ple Heart with the Oak Leaf Cluster. Jonathan Sykes, interning in the office of made, will never be forgotten. While recovering from his injuries, Gene started writing to a Pen Pal, Miss Bettye Rep. , attending Fort Valley f State University; Cavazos from Sharyland, TX. This was the Rahel Tekola, interning in the office of Rep. IN HONOR OF THE HITCHCOCK bright spot during his recovery and he often , attending Texas Tech CENTER FOR WOMEN told her in his letters that if he ever made it University; out of the war alive he was going to come Terrence Thrweatt Jr., interning in the office HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH back to the U.S. and marry her. Upon comple- of Rep. ELIJAH CUMMINGS, attending St. Mary’s OF OHIO tion of his military career, he in fact went to College of Maryland; IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Texas and asked for her hand in marriage. Benjamin Turman, interning in the office of Flag Day, June 14, 1946, Bettye Cavazos be- Wednesday, August 1, 2012 Rep. JOHN CONYERS, attending Hampton Uni- came Mrs. Eugene Welsh; that same year versity. Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in they moved to Ceres, CA. Gene eventually f honor of the Hitchcock Center for Women, opened up a business in 1967 that is known HCFW, for 30 years of dedicated service to today as Ceres ProTow and it is still located TRIBUTE TO PRIVATE FIRST thousands of women and their families in at the same place 45 years later. Gene and CLASS JOSE OSCAR BELMONTES Cleveland, OH. Bettye had two sons, Mike and Ron. Gene The mission of the Hitchcock Center is to was very proud of his sons and was dev- HON. KEN CALVERT holistically empower women to achieve and astated when Ron passed away from a pul- OF CALIFORNIA maintain productive, chemical-free lives. The monary embolism. Mike continues to run the IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Hitchcock Center is ‘‘the place where healing family business. begins’’ for women who are in need of help. Gene had a great love for his community Wednesday, August 1, 2012 The founder of the Hitchcock Center is and was very active with many social and Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to Jayne Mazzerella, who realized that women charitable as well as civic organizations. In honor and pay tribute to a hero from La recover differently from chemical substances 1987, Gene was awarded Rotarian of the Year Verne, California, Private First Class (PFC) than men. She founded Merrick Hall, a 4-bed and in 1988 he was awarded Ceres Citizen of Jose Oscar Belmontes, United States Army. treatment program for female alcoholics, which the Year and in 2003 he was awarded the Today I ask that the House of Representatives led to the beginnings of the Hitchcock Center. Stanislaus County Senior Citizen of the Year. join me to honor and remember this incredible The Hitchcock Center is now the largest Gene also had a love of Square Dancing, and young man who died in service of our country. agency of its kind in the Greater Cleveland taught beginner Square Dance lessons and PFC Belmontes was born in Riverside, Cali- area. To date, it has provided services to ap- eventually formed the Ceres Twisters where fornia in 1984. He graduated from Polytechnic proximately 13,000 women and their families. he was the club caller for over 40 years. Gene High School in 2002 and joined the Army in The Hitchcock Center recently announced its and Bettye were always happy to share their February 2011. After training at Fort Leonard planned expansion of the Traditional Housing love of Square Dancing with others and pro- Wood, Missouri, he arrived at Fort Drum in and Recovery Management services, which vided demonstrations to Ceres and Modesto July 2011. He was serving as a construction strives to return families back into the commu- grammar schools and convalescent homes engineer with the 630th Engineer Company, nity. They eventually seek to expand into even and they danced at local, state and national 7th Engineer Battalion, 10th Sustainment Bri- more communities. festivals as well as on cruise ships. gade, 10th Mountain Division, which deployed Today, there are 53 women who work for Gene is survived by his wife of 66 years to Afghanistan later that month. He died of in- the Hitchcock Center. There are also many Bettye, son Mike and his wife Maureen, juries sustained from small arms fire in alumnae of the program who return to volun- daughter-in-law Sherry and 8 grandchildren, 8 Wardak Province, Afghanistan on July 28, teer for the center through the HCFW Alum- great-grandchildren and one great-great 2012 in support of Operation Enduring Free- nae Council. Together, they have proven suc- grandson. dom. PFC Belmontes was 28 years old. cess in helping women to grow and recover so Mr. Speaker, the recognition that I am offer- PFC Belmontes’ fellow servicemen and they can go back to their families and homes ing today before the House of Representatives women fondly remember him for his positive as whole and healed persons. for Eugene Morgan Welsh is small compared

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