August 1, 2012 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E1375 

Origen Monsanto, interning in the office of 

Rep. DAVID SCOTT, attending Southern Polytechnic State University; 

Khristopher Nicholas, interning in the office 

of Rep. ALCEE HASTINGS, attending Columbia 

University; 

Matthew Norwood, interning in the office of 

Rep. JOHN LEWIS, attending Dartmouth College. 

Jasmine Omeke, interning in the office of 

Rep. JESSE JACKSON JR., attending Harvard 

University. 

Brittany Porter, interning in the office of 

Rep. FREDERICA WILSON, attending Hampton 

University; 

Jeremy Ratcliff, interning in the office of 

Rep. EMANUEL CLEAVER, II, attending Livingstone College; 

Amir Rowe, interning in the office of Rep. 

CHARLES RANGEL, attending St. John’s University; 

Shannon Schoultz, interning in the office of 

Rep. JAMES CLYBURN, attending American University; 

Kaleese Shepperd, interning in the office of 

Rep. BOBBY L. RUSH, attending Western Illinois University; 

Jason Sneed, interning in the office of Rep. 

KAREN BASS, attending University of Southern 

California; 

Travis Stanislaus, interning in the office of 

Rep. EDOLPHUS TOWNS, attending Cornell University; 

Jonathan Sykes, interning in the office of 

Rep. HANK JOHNSON, attending Fort Valley 

State University; 

Rahel Tekola, interning in the office of Rep. 

SHEILA JACKSON LEE, attending Texas Tech 

University; 

Terrence Thrweatt Jr., interning in the office 

of Rep. ELIJAH CUMMINGS, attending St. Mary’s 

College of Maryland; 

Benjamin Turman, interning in the office of 

Rep. JOHN CONYERS, attending Hampton University. 

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TRIBUTE TO PRIVATE FIRST 

CLASS JOSE OSCAR BELMONTES 

HON. KEN CALVERT OF CALIFORNIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, August 1, 2012 

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to 

honor and pay tribute to a hero from La 

Verne, California, Private First Class (PFC) 

Jose Oscar Belmontes, United States Army. 

Today I ask that the House of Representatives 

join me to honor and remember this incredible 

young man who died in service of our country. 

PFC Belmontes was born in Riverside, California in 1984. He graduated from Polytechnic 

High School in 2002 and joined the Army in 

February 2011. After training at Fort Leonard 

Wood, Missouri, he arrived at Fort Drum in 

July 2011. He was serving as a construction 

engineer with the 630th Engineer Company, 

7th Engineer Battalion, 10th Sustainment Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, which deployed 

to Afghanistan later that month. He died of injuries sustained from small arms fire in 

Wardak Province, Afghanistan on July 28, 

2012 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. PFC Belmontes was 28 years old. 

PFC Belmontes’ fellow servicemen and 

women fondly remember him for his positive 

attitude; Belmontes was known for stepping up 

to the plate and helping out whenever he was 

needed. PFC Belmontes accomplished so 

much during his short time and he will be 

dearly missed by his unit and all who knew 

him. PFC Belmontes served honorably, earning many awards and decorations including 

the Purple Heart, the Army Achievement 

Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with 

one star, the National Defense Service Medal, 

the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon and the Combat Action Badge. He 

is survived by his wife, mother, and father. 

As we look at the incredibly rich military history of our country we realize that this history 

is comprised of men, just like PFC Belmontes, 

who bravely fought for the ideals of freedom 

and democracy. Each story is unique and 

humbling for those of us who, far from the 

dangers they have faced, live our lives in relative comfort and ease. The day the 

Belmontes family learned of their husband and 

son’s death was probably the hardest day they 

have ever faced and our thoughts, prayers 

and deepest gratitude for their sacrifice go out 

to them. There are no words that can relieve 

their pain and what words we can offer only 

begin to convey our deep respect and highest 

appreciation. 

PFC Belmontes’ family have all given a part 

of themselves in the loss of their loved one 

and we hope they know that the goodness he 

brought to this world and the sacrifice he has 

made, will never be forgotten. 

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IN HONOR OF THE HITCHCOCK 

CENTER FOR WOMEN 

HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH OF OHIO

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, August 1, 2012 

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in 

honor of the Hitchcock Center for Women, 

HCFW, for 30 years of dedicated service to 

thousands of women and their families in 

Cleveland, OH. 

The mission of the Hitchcock Center is to 

holistically empower women to achieve and 

maintain productive, chemical-free lives. The 

Hitchcock Center is ‘‘the place where healing 

begins’’ for women who are in need of help. 

The founder of the Hitchcock Center is 

Jayne Mazzerella, who realized that women 

recover differently from chemical substances 

than men. She founded Merrick Hall, a 4-bed 

treatment program for female alcoholics, which 

led to the beginnings of the Hitchcock Center. 

The Hitchcock Center is now the largest 

agency of its kind in the Greater Cleveland 

area. To date, it has provided services to approximately 13,000 women and their families. 

The Hitchcock Center recently announced its 

planned expansion of the Traditional Housing 

and Recovery Management services, which 

strives to return families back into the community. They eventually seek to expand into even 

more communities. 

Today, there are 53 women who work for 

the Hitchcock Center. There are also many 

alumnae of the program who return to volunteer for the center through the HCFW Alumnae Council. Together, they have proven success in helping women to grow and recover so 

they can go back to their families and homes 

as whole and healed persons. 

Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join me 

in honoring the HCFW of Cleveland, OH, for 

all of their dedication and service to the community. 

f 

IN RECOGNITION OF EUGENE 

MORGAN WELSH 

HON. DENNIS A. CARDOZA OF CALIFORNIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, August 1, 2012 

Mr. CARDOZA. Mr. Speaker, it is with great 

sadness that I rise today to honor the late Eugene Morgan Welsh. Gene passed away 

peacefully on July 25, 2012. Staff Sgt. Gene 

Welsh was a true American hero and served 

his country with pride and dedication. 

Eugene ‘‘Gene’’ Morgan Welsh was born 

May 9, 1925 in McAllister, OK to William Morgan Welsh and Tina Pearl Welsh. Gene had 

two brothers, Kenneth and Billy Welsh, who 

preceded him in death, brother Don and a sister Wanda Griffith. 

Proudly at age 18, Gene joined the U.S. 

Army’s 19th Infantry Regiment during World 

War II. Staff Sgt. Welsh’s assignment took him 

to the South Pacific. While serving in the Asiatic Pacific, Staff Sgt. Welsh was wounded in 

combat and was eventually awarded the Purple Heart with the Oak Leaf Cluster. 

While recovering from his injuries, Gene 

started writing to a Pen Pal, Miss Bettye 

Cavazos from Sharyland, TX. This was the 

bright spot during his recovery and he often 

told her in his letters that if he ever made it 

out of the war alive he was going to come 

back to the U.S. and marry her. Upon completion of his military career, he in fact went to 

Texas and asked for her hand in marriage. 

Flag Day, June 14, 1946, Bettye Cavazos became Mrs. Eugene Welsh; that same year 

they moved to Ceres, CA. Gene eventually 

opened up a business in 1967 that is known 

today as Ceres ProTow and it is still located 

at the same place 45 years later. Gene and 

Bettye had two sons, Mike and Ron. Gene 

was very proud of his sons and was devastated when Ron passed away from a pulmonary embolism. Mike continues to run the 

family business. 

Gene had a great love for his community 

and was very active with many social and 

charitable as well as civic organizations. In 

1987, Gene was awarded Rotarian of the Year 

and in 1988 he was awarded Ceres Citizen of 

the Year and in 2003 he was awarded the 

Stanislaus County Senior Citizen of the Year. 

Gene also had a love of Square Dancing, and 

taught beginner Square Dance lessons and 

eventually formed the Ceres Twisters where 

he was the club caller for over 40 years. Gene 

and Bettye were always happy to share their 

love of Square Dancing with others and provided demonstrations to Ceres and Modesto 

grammar schools and convalescent homes 

and they danced at local, state and national 

festivals as well as on cruise ships. 

Gene is survived by his wife of 66 years 

Bettye, son Mike and his wife Maureen, 

daughter-in-law Sherry and 8 grandchildren, 8 

great-grandchildren and one great-great 

grandson. 

Mr. Speaker, the recognition that I am offering today before the House of Representatives 

for Eugene Morgan Welsh is small compared 


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