March 16, 2009 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E669 2,699,232 cubic yards of dredged material; Boards of Saginaw Future, Great Lakes Bay Secretary Kopelousos got her start in public 5.32 percent for planning, engineering and de- Michigan Works, and Saginaw County United service right here in the halls of Congress in sign work; 2.42 percent for construction man- Way. He received the Chamber of Commerce 1993 as a Legislative Assistant to then Con- agement; 12.57 percent in project construction President’s Award for his work. Gary also gresswoman Tillie K. Fowler of Florida’s 4th contingency; and 3.83 percent in project esca- finds time to be a read volunteer and he is a District and Chair of the Transportation Sub- lation. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers con- lifelong member of Second Presbyterian committee on Oversight, Investigations and ducted an Environmental Assessment in ac- Church. Emergency Management. cordance with Engineer Regulation (ER) 200– Gary is the past Chairman of the Saginaw In 2001 she joined the Florida Department 2–2, Procedures for Implementing the National County Democratic Party, a member of the of Transportation as their primary federal liai- Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Michigan Democratic State Central Com- son in Washington, D.C. focusing on transpor- Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) Reg- mittee, was elected as a John Kerry delegate tation, emergency management and disaster ulations for Implementing Procedural Provi- to the 2004 Democratic National Convention relief, and housing. She was instrumental in sions of the National Environmental Policy Act and was the 2008 Electoral College Delegate negotiations during the reauthorization of the (40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Pts. for the Michigan 4th Congressional District, federal transportation bill. In 2005 she became 1500–1508) resulting in a FINDING OF NO casting his ballot for President Barack Obama. the Department’s Chief of Staff, and in early SIGNIFICANT IMPACT (FONSI). Construction He has 3 daughters and 4 grandchildren. 2007 was appointed Interim Secretary. of the authorized turning basin has been eval- Madam Speaker, please join me in con- Secretary Kopelousos carries with her more uated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers gratulating Gary Shepherd as he retires from than a decade of professional experience in through the Corps General Reevaluation Re- the UAW and General Motors. I wish him the state and federal public policy, with a par- port (GRR) to alleviate harbor delays and im- best as he starts this next phase of his life ticular emphasis in transportation. As Sec- prove safety conditions, and reflects a benefit- and continued success in his future endeav- retary, she oversees more than 7,000 employ- to-cost ratio of 3.46 to 1. This project is per- ors. ees and an annual budget of $8 billion, always mitted. This request is consistent with the in- f keeping with the agency’s mission of providing tended and authorized purpose of U.S. Army a safe transportation system that fuels eco- RECOGNIZING THE SOUTHAMPTON Corps of Engineers General Construction ac- nomic growth and enhances quality of life for FIRE COMPANY #1 count. The Alabama State Port Authority, the all Floridians. 10th largest port in the U.S., is the federally As we celebrate Women’s History Month, I designated local sponsor for the Port of Mobile HON. PATRICK J. MURPHY ask you to join me in congratulating Secretary Harbor and will provide the 25 percent cost OF Stephanie C. Kopelousos for her commitment share for the Mobile Harbor Turning Basin IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES to ensuring a safe and efficient transportation project. The Alabama State Port Authority’s 25 Monday, March 16, 2009 system in Florida and her invaluable contribu- percent cost share funding is secured. Turning Mr. PATRICK J. MURPHY of Pennsylvania. tions in the field of public service. basin will help serve a new container terminal, Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the f coal terminal and two raw material terminals. Southampton Fire Company #1 for 100 years HONORING TuCARE f of distinguished service. Since their inception HONORING GARY SHEPHERD in 1909, Southampton Fire Company #1 has remained an all-volunteer fire department. HON. GEORGE RADANOVICH On December 10, 1909, the first meeting of OF CALIFORNIA HON. DALE E. KILDEE the Southampton Fire Company was held, and IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF MICHIGAN four years later they were incorporated with 88 Monday, March 16, 2009 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES charter members. They utilized a variety of Mr. RADANOVICH. Madam Speaker, I rise Monday, March 16, 2009 firefighting equipment through the years, such today to congratulate the Tuolumne County Al- Mr. KILDEE. Madam Speaker, I would like as a horse-drawn button hand pumper in liance for Resources and Environment, incor- the House of Representatives to join me in 1913, a Ford Model T/Hale fire engine in porated upon the celebration of their 20th an- congratulating Gary Shepherd as he retires 1921, and an 85-foot Hi-Ranger Snorkel ele- niversary. The anniversary will be celebrated after 33 years of service from General Motors vated platform truck in 1965, the first of its on Saturday, March 14, 2009 at the ‘‘Annual and the UAW. A retirement party will be held kind in Bucks County. Dinner and Auction’’ in Sonora, California. A major renovation of the firehouse was in his honor on March 27th in Saginaw, Michi- Tuolumne County Alliance for Resources dedicated in May 2000 to the ‘‘past, present, gan. and Environment, Inc, or TuCARE, was first and future members of the Southampton Fire A native of Saginaw County, Gary was hired organized in 1989 when a group of individuals Company #1, in recognition of their unselfish by General Motors in 1976. He worked at the came together to enlighten others in the wise service to the citizens of Upper Southampton Saginaw Steering Gear facility and worked his use of natural resources in Tuolumne County. Township.’’ Now, on the Fire Company’s 100th way from the production line to journeyman The organization has a history of commitment Anniversary, we also extend our greatest status as a machine repairman. In 1985 he to ensuring the long-term viability of all of the thanks and appreciation for their unwavering was elected an Alternate Committeeman at natural resources through an ecosystem man- service. UAW Local 699. From this position he went on agement approach toward the stewardship of Madam Speaker, I ask that you join me in to serve as the District Committeeman on the the public lands. They are firm believers that recognizing the Southampton Fire Company Bargaining Committee, as Chairman of the man must play an active role to protect the #1 for their 100 years of service to our families Bargaining Unit for Local 699, and Top Nego- forests from the destruction of wildfires. The in Bucks County. I am honored to serve as tiator of GM Sub-Council 5. Gary has also multiple-use system that TuCARE promotes their Congressman. served on the CAP and Recreation Committee allows for everyone to benefit from the forest. of the Local. Local 699 was featured in a 1999 f Livestock owners use the pastures in the sum- Industry Week article entitled, ‘‘A Perfect HONORING STEPHANIE C. mer, miners are allowed to extract minerals, Union,’’ outlining the cooperative relationship KOPELOUSOS loggers can help thin the forest and everyone between the UAW and the auto manufacturer. can enjoy the recreation the forest has to Gary continued his career with the UAW and HON. MARIO DIAZ-BALART offer. in 1998 he was appointed as a Region 1–D OF FLORIDA The organization ensures that the private and the public sector work together to protect International Representative and as the Skilled IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Trades Representative. He rounded out his property rights and to educate our future gen- career by serving on UAW President Ron Monday, March 16, 2009 erations. TuCARE advocates awareness in Gettelfinger’s staff as Coordinator for Michigan Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. schools and communities by sponsoring CAP in Region 1–D. Madam Speaker I rise today to honor a great ‘‘Tours for Kids’’ for more than twelve hundred In addition to his work on behalf of UAW leader from the State of Florida, Stephanie C. students each year and a Natural Resources workers, Gary has worked extensively in the Kopelousos. She was appointed Secretary of Tour for invited guests from the State of Cali- community. He is the president of the Saginaw the Florida Department of Transportation in fornia, Congress, local businesses, educators Area Fireworks, served as co-chair of the 2007 and since then has been working to en- and various agencies. TuCARE is connected Saginaw County Vision 20/20, and on the sure our safety on Florida’s roads. to schools in Tuolumne, Calaveras and

VerDate Nov 24 2008 01:56 Mar 17, 2009 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\K16MR8.005 E16MRPT1 jbell on PROD1PC69 with REMARKS E670 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks March 16, 2009 Stanislaus Counties and participates in the As the mission advanced, Major Vujnovich’s ried in Saint Thomas Aquinas Church in Tuolumne County Schools Forestry Institute experience and expertise were indispensable. Springfield. Martin became a member of the for Teachers and presents to civic groups and Major Vujnovich was responsible for selecting John Boyle O’Reilly Club in 1953 and now organizations. They also sponsor various pub- members of the Halyard Mission, and orches- both Martin and Eleanor are life members. lic forums on issues related to natural re- trating the initial parachute drop into the area. The John Boyle O’Reilly Club was founded sources and is represented at the annual Alli- The rescue plans hinged on his direction and in 1880. The club consists of dedicated Irish ance on American Fly-in for Freedom forum the ability of local Serbs to build an airstrip and Irish-Americans whose goal is to preserve held in Washington, DC. The organization pre- without any modern tools and without German and promote their Irish heritage. The club’s pares press releases for all media outlets and detection. motto is culture, family and tradition. Since meets with local, state and federal elected offi- took place between Au- March 1970, the club has been located on 33 cials regarding issues of concern. gust and December 1944 and was a complete Progress Avenue in Springfield, Massachu- Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend success. Hundreds of men were rescued be- setts. Today, the club is very active in their and congratulate Tuolumne County Alliance hind enemy lines and no lives were lost in the community, awarding the John Boyle O’Reilly for Resources and Environment, Inc. on twen- mission. The Halyard Mission was a success Scholarship every year to college-bound stu- ty years of service. I invite my colleagues to thanks to the brave men and women of the dents. join me in wishing TuCARE many years of OSS and the courageous Serbian locals who f continued success. risked their lives to safeguard American air- HONORING RABBI JON E. CUTLER f men. Thanks to a keen mind and tactical ex- pertise, Major Vujnovich demonstrated the HONORING GEORGE VUJNOVICH courage and selflessness that mark him as an HON. PATRICK J. MURPHY FOR HIS PARTICIPATION IN THE American hero. OF PENNSYLVANIA HALYARD MISSION Major George Vujnovich was born to Ser- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES bian parents in 1915. In 1934 he received a Monday, March 16, 2009 HON. JOSEPH CROWLEY scholarship from the Serb National Federation OF and left his home in New York to attend col- Mr. PATRICK J. MURPHY of Pennsylvania. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES lege in . While living in Belgrade, Mr. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Rabbi Jon E. Cutler—the only Jewish Chaplain cur- Monday, March 16, 2009 Vujnovich met and married his wife, Mirjana. Their life was disrupted in 1941, when the rently serving in western Iraq. And as a former Mr. CROWLEY. Madam Speaker, I am German Luftwaffe bombed Belgrade in Oper- paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division who joined by the co-chairs of the Congressional ation Punishment. Mr. Vujnovich was a first- served in Baghdad 5 years ago and the first Serbian Caucus, Representatives MELISSA hand witness to the bombing, nearly losing his Iraq war veteran to serve in this great body, it BEAN of Illinois and DAN BURTON of Indiana, in life when a falling bomb destroyed a nearby fills me with tremendous pride to be Rabbi honoring a treasured constituent of mine and streetcar. After the bombing, Mr. and Mrs. Cutler’s Congressman. Rabbi Cutler has set one of the unsung heroes of World War II, re- Vujnovich fled Yugoslavia, and he accepted a an example for all of us—not just through his tired Major George Vujnovich. Major job in as assistant airport manager spiritual leadership—but through selfless serv- Vujnovich, a proud Serbian-American, was in- while Mirjana moved to Washington, DC to ice to our community and our nation. strumental in ‘‘Operation Halyard’’ and one of work at the Yugoslav Embassy. When the US In Iraq, Rabbi Cutler serves as the 3rd Ma- the last surviving members of that successful entered the war, Mr. Vujnovich received a rine Aircraft Wing Chaplain, and assists the wartime mission. commission as a second lieutenant and as- entire Al Asad Marine Air Base. Prior to his In the summer of 1944, Americans and Al- sumed command of an airbase in . service in Iraq, Rabbi Cutler served as the pul- lied airmen flew hundreds of sorties over Eu- While working at the airbase, he was recruited pit rabbi of Tiferes B’nai Israel in Warrington, rope with the aim of disrupting the Ploesti oil by the OSS for the clandestine services, and Bucks County, Pennsylvania for the past 8 complex, Adolf Hitler’s most important oil pipe- was later sent to the OSS post in Bari, . years. line. During their treacherous journey from From this post he saved the lives of his fellow As the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing Chaplain, Italian bases to the Romanian oil complex, servicemen and earned the title of hero. I am Rabbi Cutler supervises 20 Christian chaplains 1,500 of our brave men were forced to bail out honored to have this opportunity to acknowl- and chaplain assistants, and has worked to over Yugoslavia. Scores of American crewmen edge Major Vujnovich’s contribution to the Hal- create a center for Jewish troops who are were trapped behind enemy lines and depend- yard Mission. serving in Anbar Province. The congregants of ent on Serbian villagers to hide them from the Tiferes B’nai Israel even contributed to this ef- f Germans. fort, sending tiles and paste to be used for the Although Yugoslavia was enemy territory at IN CELEBRATION OF MARTIN J. chapel floor. the time, much of the country’s Serbian re- AND ELEANOR R. KEARNEY As the Rabbi for Tiferes B’nai Israel in War- gions remained under the control of Yugoslav rington, Rabbi Cutler worked tirelessly to unite guerilla resistance leader General Draja HON. RICHARD E. NEAL his congregants, both old and new. He strived Mihailovich and his Chetnik forces. General OF MASSACHUSETTS to make new members feel welcome while re- Mihailovich remained loyal to the Allies, and IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES specting the needs and wishes of long-stand- under his orders the Serbian people shielded ing members. Before he was deployed to Iraq, these airmen and protected them from capture Monday, March 16, 2009 he also proudly received his Navy commander and imprisonment by German troops. Mr. NEAL of Massachusetts. Madam Speak- pins on the pulpit at Tiferes B’nai Israel. General Mihailovich passed information er, I would like to acknowledge Martin J. and Commander Cutler has been a chaplain in about the downed American airmen to the Eleanor R. Kearney for being named the Irish the U.S. Navy Reserve for 23 years. He was authorities. The Office of Stra- Couple of the Year by the John Boyle O’Reilly the only Jewish chaplain serving with the Ma- tegic Services (OSS) put together Operation Club in Springfield, Massachusetts. They were rines in Desert Storm, and after 9/11, he was Halyard, a daring mission to save the men awarded this deserved title on February 7, called to the Pentagon to counsel family mem- without drawing the attention of the Nazis. The 2009 for their support and contributions to the bers who lost loved ones during the tragic mission entailed flying and landing C–47 cargo club. The couple has been active with the club events of that terrible day. planes into enemy territory, picking up the for over fifty years. Both have helped with When not serving our troops in Iraq or his downed airmen, and flying back to allied terri- fundraisers and dances. Eleanor is an avid congregants in Warrington, Rabbi Cutler has tory. Before the mission could go forward, baker for the club and Martin was a strong served as an instructor at Gratz College for however, the Allied forces cut ties with Gen- supporter of the new building fund. A recep- Jewish education and a visiting professor at eral Mihailovich and no longer had specific in- tion dinner was held in their honor on March Philadelphia University. He received his B.A. formation about the location of the American 1, 2009. and M.A. in religious studies from Temple Uni- airmen. Major George Vujnovich, the OSS op- Martin was born in the Great Blaskett Is- versity, and holds a Doctor of Ministry in Pas- eration chief stationed in Bari, Italy, discovered lands in Dingle, County Kerry, Ireland on De- toral Counseling from Hebrew Union College. that Mihailovich was hiding the airmen near cember 31, 1926. Eleanor is a life-long Spring- Rabbi Cutler was ordained by the Reconstruc- his headquarters in the city of Pranjani. He in- field resident who was born on December 17, tionist Rabbinical College in Wyncote, PA. formed U.S. officials of their location and Op- 1932. Martin came to America in 1951 where Rabbi Cutler has contributed enormously to eration Halyard progressed. he soon met Eleanor. In 1953, they were mar- the citizens of Bucks County and given so

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