January 15, 2014 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E79 HONORING SGT. MARQUITA A. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me raphers.’’ He served as photographer aboard GEORGE in recognizing a rising soldier of our United the USS Birmingham during the Mexican Inter- States Air Force, Sgt. Marquita A. George. vention in 1914, and he also invented the first HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON f handheld oblique camera for aerial photog- raphy. Pushing the limits of what a camera in OF MISSISSIPPI MEGARA PULLEN the air could do, he even survived a crash IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES aboard the first U.S. Navy zeppelin, the USS Wednesday, January 15, 2014 HON. ED PERLMUTTER Shenandoah in 1922. He subsequently was OF COLORADO Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speak- honorably discharged from military service on IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES er, I rise today to recognize a fellow Mississip- January 1, 1926. Walter Leroy Richardson pian, and pay tribute to a soldier of The United Wednesday, January 15, 2014 passed away on June 14, 1945 and is interred States Air Force, Sgt. Marquita A. George of Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise at Fort Lincoln Cemetery, Washington D.C. Sunflower County, Mississippi. today to recognize and honor Megara Pullen Walter Leroy Richardson’s pioneering spirit Sgt. George is the only child born to Terri for receiving the Greater Golden Chamber of and dedication to his craft and country make and the stepdaughter of a former Navy man, Commerce Ambassador of the Year Award. it an honor to dedicate Naval Air Station Build- Mr. Eddie Bentley, Jr. She is a native of Moor- This award is given each year to an indi- ing 1500 in Pensacola, Florida to his proud head, MS. Sgt. George received her early vidual who is a member of the Chamber Am- legacy. Building 1500 was built by the U.S. education from the East Sunflower Elementary bassadors. This individual is active in pro- Army in 1939 and was later turned into a School and Gentry High School in Indianola, moting the Chamber in several ways including Naval School of Photography. The school was MS. attending ribbon cuttings, grand openings, later renamed the Defense Photography School and relocated to Fort Meade, Mary- Sgt. George went on to pursue higher edu- ground breakings, mentoring new Chamber land. Building 1500 was selected for renova- cation at Alcorn State University and Mis- members, attending Chamber functions, help- tion under the American Recovery and Rein- sissippi State University, but put her pursuit on ing at the Chamber Back Yard BBQ, and the vestment Act in 2010 and then designated as hold to answer a burning desire. She had to list goes on. headquarters for Naval Air Station, Pensacola. enlist in the military. She knew she could kill In addition to her job as Marketing Director Mr. Speaker, on behalf of a grateful Nation, two birds with one stone. Sgt. George enlisted for four Mahnke Auto Body locations, Megara I stand here today to commend Walter Leroy in The United States Air Force. is always available to take on the role of vol- ‘‘Dick’’ Richardson, his lasting impact on the August 5, 2005, Sgt. George attended Basic unteer or leader. Her dedication to the Greater United States Armed Forces, and the recogni- Military Training in San Antonio, TX. After Golden Chamber makes her a real asset to tion of his legacy through the dedication of graduating basic training, she went to Keesler the Golden community. Building 1500 as the W.L. Richardson Building Air Force Base in Biloxi, MS and studied at I extend my deepest congratulations to 1500 on board Naval Air Station Pensacola, the Technical School for Information Manage- Megara Pullen for her well deserved recogni- Florida. ment (TSIM) learning about computers. After tion from the Greater Golden Chamber of graduating TSIM she was transferred to Max- Commerce. I have no doubt she will exhibit f well Air Force Base in Montgomery, AL. At the same dedication and character in all her CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS Maxwell Air Force Base she was able to put future accomplishments. ADDRESSES UNEMPLOYMENT her computer education to work by becoming f BENEFITS scheduling technician, personnel liaison, and a RECOGNIZING THE NAVAL AIR computer technician for student officers from STATION, PENSACOLA HEAD- SPEECH OF Majors to Lieutenant Colonels. While at Max- QUARTERS AS THE W.L. RICH- HON. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON well Air Force, Sgt. George also earned her ARDSON BUILDING 1500 OF TEXAS Associate’s Degree in Information Manage- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ment from the Community College of the Air Force. HON. JEFF MILLER Monday, January 13, 2014 OF FLORIDA Sgt. George has been deployed three times Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES oversees. Her tours include Kirkuk, Iraq; Mr. Speaker, another week has passed while Baghdad, Iraq; and Al Udeid Qatar. While on Wednesday, January 15, 2014 Republicans in Congress continue their block- deployment in Baghdad she was decorated Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I am ade on the renewal of federal unemployment with the Joint Commendation Medal. This honored to commemorate the life of Walter insurance. More than 1.5 million jobless Amer- medal was for a joint special secret service Leroy ‘‘Dick’’ Richardson and recognize the icans remain without unemployment insurance mission with The United States Navy, The Naval Air Station, Pensacola Headquarters as and another 72,000 hardworking men and United States Marines, and The United States the W.L. Richardson Building 1500. women will be cut off with each additional Army to locate Sadaam Hussein. Walter Leroy Richardson was born August week of inaction that passes by. Sgt. George is currently a Non-Commis- 21, 1889 in Princeton Depot, Massachusetts House Democrats have continued their push sioned Officer in Charge (NCOIC) of the Offi- and was later married to Ethel Wilkerson. He to hold a vote on extending emergency unem- cial Mail Center at Little Rock Air Force Base enlisted as a Ship’s Cook (4th class) in the ployment insurance. In fact, this is the third in Jacksonville, AR. On this assignment she is U.S. Navy on November 1, 1911, where he time that I join my colleagues in making sure improving her supervision skills by supervising served on the USS Mississippi. Having devel- that we renew our promise to the American a great team of Airmen to operate the mail oped a passion for photography in his youth, people by demanding a simple vote on a distribution center for the base; and we all Richardson was able to continue his hobby of three-month extension. Every day that we fail know mail is highly important to soldiers many photography on the USS Mississippi while it to act means more families will be left won- of whom are constantly deployed and mobile. was anchored in Pensacola. During the Navy’s dering how they will put food on the table or The mail must follow without hiccups. She first few weeks of aviation-related activities in pay for basic goods as they seek employment. said her goal is to be the supervisor she never Pensacola in 1914, Richardson often captured Instead of devoting so much time in Con- had to those under her authority and prepare aviation activities on film, and the Navy recog- gress trying to overturn the Affordable Care for her next supervision assignment. nized that his photographs were a valuable Act, House Republicans should reconsider the Ultimately, Sgt. George has her eye sight tool for training and documenting aircraft test- impact that allowing unemployment insurance set on becoming a Master Sergeant to obtain ing, accidents, and other activities. Before to expire will have on the U.S. economy and the duty title as a First Sergeant. I am pleased long, the Navy designated Richardson as the American families. It is estimated that the to hear from Sgt. George that her loyalty to Navy’s first official photographer. At the start lapse in unemployment coverage removed the United States is faithful and just so much of World War I, the Navy used photography $400 million out of state economies in just a that she decided to re-enlist for another six for aerial reconnaissance, and Richardson single week, while failing to extend unemploy- more years, after which she will have fourteen was soon commissioned and charged with or- ment insurance will cost the U.S. economy years dedicated to serving and protecting our ganizing the first Naval School of Photog- 240,000 jobs this year. country. I am thankful and grateful for the raphy. Mr. Speaker, this is an issue of restoring service she has given us. Thank you Sgt. Richardson is now known as the ‘‘Father of economic security for millions of Americans George. Naval Photography and Naval Aerial Photog- and their families. I am truly disappointed to VerDate Mar 15 2010 06:49 Jan 16, 2014 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\A15JA8.019 E15JAPT1 smartinez on DSK6TPTVN1PROD with REMARKS E80 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks January 15, 2014 see that the House Republican agenda for OUR UNCONSCIONABLE NATIONAL This prestigious organization, founded at 2014 does not include renewing federal unem- DEBT Howard University by nine visionary women in ployment insurance. The long-term unem- 1908, at a period when Jim Crow laws flour- ployed cannot wait on Congress to restore this HON. MIKE COFFMAN ished in the law books, knew the rigors of their critical support any longer, and I urge my Re- OF COLORADO journey during the early 1900s.