August 12, 2011 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E1519 Each year the Plymouth Fife and Drum IN HONOR OF ROCCO J. COLONNA to the community of Watts. In 1964, Ms. Corps embarks on an eight to ten day tour to Aliewine started the Watts/Willowbrook Christ- visit and perform at historical sites. The group HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH mas Parade by scraping together as much prides itself on a celebrated history, having OF OHIO money and as many volunteers as she could. performed at sites of historical importance in IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES The parade has since turned into an annual the personal life and military career of George event, which has spanned over 46 years and Washington during its silver anniversary year Friday, August 12, 2011 included many celebrities, such as Sammy of 1996. The crowning moment of the tour Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to Davis Jr. and the Jackson 5. was receiving a standing ovation after a per- honor Mr. Rocco J. Colonna on the occasion In 1988, along with Dr. James Mays, Ms. formance for the Old Guard Fife and Drum of his passing. Aliewine decided to create the Watts Walk of Corps, the official ceremonial unit of the Army, Rocco ‘‘Rocky’’ Colonna was an Ohio state Fame, a monument to community heroes. The and escort to the President. The Old Guard legislator. He served from 1975 to 1998 in the Promenade of Prominence, as it is called, was has long served as a model for the Plymouth Ohio General Assembly in the House of Rep- placed along the edge of what is now Ted Fife and Drum Corps. resentatives. During that tenure, he served as Watkins Memorial Park at 103rd and Success Mr. Speaker, for 40 years the Plymouth Fife the chairman of the House Economic Develop- streets. Edna also served as President of the and Drum Corps has maintained a prominent ment and Small Business Committee. In 1998, Los Angeles County Commission for Women, presence in the Metropolitan Detroit area and he was appointed by former Governor George founded the Watts-Willowbrook Chamber of traveled extensively throughout the United Voinovich to serve on the Liquor Board for the Commerce, and the Watts Community Beau- States and Canada to preserve our nation’s State of Ohio as Commissioner. Additionally, tiful Corp. musical heritage. Today, I ask my colleagues he was a councilman for the City of Brook Edna’s community involvement and selfless to join me in congratulating the storied mem- Park. attitude were a powerful example for her three bers and alumni of the Plymouth Fife and In all that he did, Mr. Colonna made sure children: Paula Aliewine, Marsha Feaster and Drum Corps, and in recognizing their four dec- that he treated everyone around him with dig- Wilnora Ewell. She will always be remem- ades of patriotic inspiration and loyal service nity and respect. He is remembered by col- bered by Watts-Willowbrook residents for her to our community and our country. leagues for always having a joke ready and wonderful spirit and dedication to community was universally liked in the House, an accom- improvement. I ask all Members to join me in f plishment. a moment of silence to honor the memory of Aside from his political career, Rocco was a the late Edna Aliewine. HONORING THE SERVICE OF veteran of the Korean War, having served in f DEBBIE SUTTON the United States Navy. Additionally, he was married for 54 years to Shirley (nee Meyer). RECOGNIZING PURPLE HEART DAY Surviving Rocky are his brother Vito; his chil- HON. LAURA RICHARDSON dren, Tina Montagino and Lavaine Cates; his HON. SHELLEY BERKLEY OF CALIFORNIA son Danny, who followed his father into poli- OF NEVADA IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES tics and is currently a city councilman in Brook IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Park; five grandchildren; and one great-grand- Friday, August 12, 2011 Friday, August 12, 2011 child. Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join me Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Speaker, today I urge today on behalf of the people of California’s in honoring Mr. Rocco J. Colonna, a man my colleagues to join me in recognizing Purple Thirty-Seventh Congressional District to honor whose unending duty to the State of Ohio and Heart Day. the courage and service of Ms. Debbie Sutton. to this great nation is something to which we On August 7, 1782, General George Wash- ington issued an order establishing the Hon- Ms. Sutton, a retired nurse from Long should all aspire. orary Badge of Distinction, otherwise known Beach, California was the sole volunteer from f as the Badge of Military Merit or the Decora- Long Beach’s Chapter of the American Red HONORING THE LIFE OF EDNA tion of the Purple Heart. Cross to be assigned to help in relief efforts ALIEWINE The Purple Heart bears the profile of after a devastating tornado ripped through George Washington, the man who led our Joplin, Missouri in May of 2011. The tornado country through the Revolutionary War and that passed through the town of Joplin was so HON. LAURA RICHARDSON eventually became the nation’s first President. extensive, that it damaged the local hospital, OF CALIFORNIA The Purple Heart is awarded in the name of destroyed four local schools and left sur- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES the President of the United States to members rounding areas in tatters. Ms. Sutton, one of Friday, August 12, 2011 of the armed forces who are wounded in con- the lead members of a volunteer team as- Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, it is my flict with an enemy force, or while being held signed to help residents of Joplin, played an sad duty to rise today to inform the House of by an enemy force as a prisoner of war, and integral role in securing replacements for lost the death of Ms. Edna Aliewine. Founder of may also be awarded to the next of kin of medical equipment, medicine and other goods the Watts/Willowbrook Christmas Parade and members of the Armed Forces who are killed essential to public health. co-creator of the Watts Walk of Fame, Edna, in conflict with an enemy force, or who die of Before Ms. Sutton was called to aid in the a longtime Watts resident, devoted her life to a wound received in conflict with an enemy post-tornado recovery efforts in Joplin, she instilling civic pride into residents of her com- force. had been working to set up health services in munity. Edna Aliewine passed away at her The Order of the Purple Heart for Military preparation for floods in Baton Rouge, Lou- home on Tuesday at the age of 90 due to Merit is our oldest military decoration. isiana. Ms. Sutton’s role in assisting those in complications from lymphoma. Purple has always been a symbol of royalty need in Joplin represents her fifth assignment Ms. Aliewine was born in Los Angeles on and it is fitting that we award the Purple Heart as a volunteer in post-disaster recovery. Ms. January 1, 1921 and later went on to attend to our wounded heroes, those American mili- Sutton also assisted in recovery efforts after Los Angeles City College and Cal State LA. tary members who have bravely served their hurricanes Rita and Katrina devastated Lou- Upon graduation, Edna worked as a real es- country and risked their lives to secure our isiana. tate agent and later as a private nurse, but freedom. I want to thank all veterans for their Ms. Sutton retired from the Long Beach De- many knew that Edna’s real passion lay in bravery on behalf of the United States of partment of Health and Human Services in community service and local politics. Ms. America. I am personally inspired by the self- 2004, and is a truly an outstanding member of Aliewine was well known throughout the com- less service and devotion of the veterans who our community. In her retirement, Ms. Sutton munity for her many accomplishments and have fought for our nation. has dedicated herself to volunteering. Her en- was held in high regard by those closest to The United States of America honors the thusiastic, adventurous, and altruistic person- her. service men and women who on distant fields ality serves as a model for all Americans. Among her proudest achievements, Ms. of death gave their life blood for their country, Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the Aliewine founded the Watts/Willowbrook not forgetting warriors of yesteryear or those House to join me in honoring Ms. Debbie Sut- Christmas Parade. Inspired by the glitz and still in Iraq or Afghanistan, today. ton for her commitment to public health and glamour of the Hollywood Christmas Parade, As the Representative for Nevada’s First public service. Ms. Aliewine sought to bring her own version Congressional District, it gives me immense

VerDate Mar 15 2010 23:35 Aug 12, 2011 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\A12AU8.010 E12AUPT1 rfrederick on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with REMARKS E1520 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks August 12, 2011 pride to recognize August 7 as the anniversary resources they needed in the wake of natural Ms. Covall-Alves began her career in emer- of the Purple Heart award, and as Purple disasters. gency management as a 9–1–1 dispatcher for Heart Day. Today is a day to reflect and take During her tenure in Sonoma County, Ms. the Tuolumne County Sheriffs Department. great pride in being Americans. We must Covall-Alves coordinated the response, recov- After developing disaster recovery plans for never forget the sacrifices all veterans have ery and mitigation efforts for the 1995–1999 private businesses, she returned to public made in the name of freedom. and 2006 winter storms and floods, the 1996 service with the San Mateo County Office of f Cavedale fire and the 1998 Rio Nido debris Emergency Services and from there was de- flow. In total, she oversaw the implementation HONORING SANDY COVALL-ALVES ployed to the 1994 Northridge earthquake in of 14 local emergency proclamations, 12 OF SONOMA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA Emergency Operations Center activations, 8 Southern California as part of the state’s mu- gubernatorial proclamations and 6 events that tual aid program. She joined the Sonoma HON. MIKE THOMPSON were designated by the President to be na- County Office of Emergency Services in 1995 OF CALIFORNIA tional disasters. and quickly became an integral part of the IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Ms. Covall-Alves was also the guiding force county’s response and recovery team. Our of- Friday, August 12, 2011 in establishing, implementing and coordinating fices appreciated working with her, knowing Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, emergency programs for the country, its cities that she was the consummate professional I rise today, together with my colleague, Con- and special districts. Her commitment to im- who could use all of her connections to de- gresswoman LYNN WOOLSEY, to recognize proving emergency management did not stop velop a coordinated response. Sandy Covall-Alves, who is retiring after three at the county line. She is a founding member Mr. Speaker, Sandy Covall-Alves has had a decades in the emergency management field. and current Chair of the California Operational Throughout her 30 years of service, including Area Coalition (COAC), a forum for informa- long and distinguished career in serving and 16 as Emergency Manager for Sonoma Coun- tion exchange and advocacy on emergency protecting the people of the State of California. ty’s Fire and Emergency Services Department management issues. The coalition’s mission is We wish her well in her retirement as she en- and the Sonoma County Operational Area, to enhance closer cooperation and collabora- joys time with her husband, Ron Alves, and she dedicated herself to making sure that peo- tion with its members and with the State their three special pets, Beesley, Mowse and ple in her charge were safe and received the Emergency Management Agency. Wilson.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 23:35 Aug 12, 2011 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\A12AU8.014 E12AUPT1 rfrederick on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with REMARKS