August 3, 2012 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E1441 

in Washington, DC after accepting the Spirit of 

Hope Award in 2009, she remarked: 

I keep getting thanked for something I 

shouldn’t be getting thanked for . . . What I 

and my awesome group of volunteers do, we 

do it because it’s the right thing to do. The 

men and women who put their life on the 

line every day for my freedom, for my 

grandkids to play safe in my backyard, 

they’re the ones that deserve to be thanked. 

It is hard to imagine that Laura had any free 

time in addition to her tireless work at MARB 

yet she always found time to serve the community in other ways. She worked with many 

aid agencies including the Veterans of Foreign 

Wars and the Salvation Army, and was the 

longtime coordinator of Moreno Valley’s Fourth 

of July Parade, the ‘‘Trees for Troops’’ campaign, and the Annual Family Day picnic at 

March Air Reserve Base for all the military 

services, including 500 Navy Reservists who 

drill at Navy Operational Support Center 

Moreno Valley. 

Laura is survived by her husband Larry, 

daughter Laurice (Don) Souron, and two 

granddaughters, Laural Hite and Taylor Hite. 

Laura will always be remembered for her incredible work ethic, generosity, contributions 

to the community and love of family. Her dedication to our men and women in uniform, family, and community is a testament to a life 

lived well and a legacy that will continue. I extend my condolences to Laura’s family and 

friends; although Laura may be gone, the light 

and goodness she brought to the world remain 

and will never be forgotten. 

f 

WEST END BAPTIST CHURCH 120TH 

ANNIVERSARY 

HON. ROBERT C. ‘‘BOBBY’’ SCOTT OF VIRGINIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, August 2, 2012 

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise 

today to congratulate a legacy of faith in Virginia’s Third Congressional District. This year, 

West End Baptist Church in Hampton, Virginia 

is celebrating its 120th anniversary, and I 

would like to take a moment to reflect on the 

history of this esteemed institution and its contributions to the greater Hampton Roads community. 

The story of West End Baptist Church begins on December 12, 1892, when Robert and 

Mary Herbert sold a piece of land forty feet by 

one hundred feet to Joshua Morris, Isaiah Dillard and John Seton, Trustees of West End 

Baptist Church, for $75.00. It was recorded 

that the land be used solely for the purpose of 

building a church. 

In 1901, the West End Baptist Church was 

up and running under the leadership of Pastor 

Linas. The fellowship began in the old Bates 

School House that was located where the 

Beau Brummell building now stands. After the 

death of Pastor Linas, Pastor Beverly Garner 

became his successor. He saw a need for a 

new sanctuary for his followers. The congregation began to build the new church at 

2916 Shell Road. Unfortunately, Pastor Garner 

passed away before he could see his dream 

completed. However, the new church sanctuary was completed in 1903 under the leadership of Pastor Bray. After Pastor Bray’s tenure, Pastor Hall was selected as the next 

leader and Pastor Atkins succeeded him. 

In 1965, Rev. Hallie Richardson, Sr. became West End Baptist Church’s leader. He 

served faithfully until September 1990. During 

his ministry, the membership flourished. Due 

to the growth in the congregation, there again 

was a need for a larger sanctuary. The first 

service in the new sanctuary at 2413 Shell 

Road took place in July 1982, and West End 

Baptist Church has remained there to this day. 

Pastor Rufus Hill succeeded Pastor Richardson in September 1990, and he served 

until 1999. Guest ministers rendered services 

until April 2001. During this time, West End 

also saw its first woman, Edith Green, appointed to the Diaconate. Rev. James Gray 

was officially installed as Pastor on November 

2, 2003 and served until 2007. Pastor Paul 

Sims was elected to serve as the 10th Pastor 

of West End Baptist Church in November 

2008. 

Over the years, the West End Baptist community has continued to grow and flourish. Its 

members have offered programs in the Youth 

Ministry, Outreach Ministry, Culinary Ministry 

and more. In addition to Sunday prayer, the 

church offers Wednesday Noon Prayer Assembly. The Church is home to numerous 

bands and choirs. The church has also organized many functions including Children’s 

Church, new converts’ and new members’ orientation classes, a monthly Men’s Fellowship 

Breakfast, hot meals for the hungry and an 

Annual Homecoming. 

As West End Baptist Church gathers to celebrate this historic milestone, the church can 

truly remember its past, celebrate its present, 

and focus on its future as ‘‘the friendly church 

by the side of the road, in the heart of the 

community with the community at heart.’’ I 

would like to congratulate Pastor Sims and all 

of the members of the West End Baptist 

Church on the occasion of their 120th Anniversary. I wish them many more years of dedicated service to the community. 

f 

THE ‘‘CONGRESSIONAL REPLACEMENT OF PRESIDENT OBAMA’S 

ENERGY-RESTRICTING AND JOBLIMITING OFFSHORE DRILLING 

PLAN’’ (H.R. 6082) 

HON. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN OF MARYLAND

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, August 2, 2012 

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, domestic 

oil production is at an 18 year high, and President Obama’s ‘‘All of the Above’’ energy strategy has reduced our reliance on foreign oil 

from 57 percent of consumption during the last 

year of the Bush Administration to 45 percent 

today. We now have 50 percent more floating 

drilling rigs operating in the Gulf of Mexico 

than we did before the BP oil spill—and more 

rigs operating in the United States than the 

rest of the world combined. The Administration’s existing 2012–2017 offshore drilling 

lease plan makes more than 75 percent of our 

offshore oil and gas resources available for 

drilling, and the Interior Department reports 

that oil and gas companies already possess 

26 million acres in the Gulf of Mexico containing 18 billion barrels of oil that have yet to 

be developed. 

Yet here we are for the eleventh time in the 

past eighteen months wasting valuable floor 

time on another drill bill that has absolutely 

zero chance of becoming law when our nation’s fiscal cliff looms, and Americans are 

looking to their government for effective leadership so we can accelerate economic growth 

and put people back to work. These fundamental defects are further compounded by the 

conspicuous absence of any safety or royalty 

reform in this legislation, and the majority’s insistence on gutting environmental review for 

the additional lease sales this legislation requires—including lease sales off the mid-Atlantic coast as early as 2013. 

I support the responsible development of 

our nation’s oil and gas resources as part of 

a comprehensive ‘‘All of the Above’’ energy 

strategy that emphasizes a greater use of renewables, efficiency and other clean energy 

sources over time. The forced lease sales in 

this legislation do not constitute responsible 

development, and the ‘‘Oil Above All’’ strategy 

advanced by the majority in this legislation 

and throughout this Congress is ultimately a 

prescription for energy dependence and economic decline. 

I urge a ‘‘no’’ vote. 

f 

HONORING THE TRADITION OF 

VETERANS DAY 

HON. SPENCER BACHUS OF ALABAMA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, August 2, 2012 

Mr. BACHUS. Mr. Speaker, honoring our 

veterans and their families for the sacrifices 

they have made to protect the freedoms that 

we enjoy as Americans is not only proper, but 

a privilege that should always be cherished. 

On November 11, 2012, Birmingham, Alabama will mark its 65th consecutive year of 

serving as a national model for the commemoration of Veterans Day. Birmingham’s Veterans Day ceremonies are the oldest and largest in our country. The legacy extends across 

generations. 

Birmingham’s reputation as ‘‘the cradle of 

National Veterans Day’’ first took root in the 

final months of World War II. 

Originally, November 11 was recognized as 

Armistice Day to solemnly commemorate the 

end of World War I, which was supposedly the 

‘‘war to end all wars.’’ 

Barely more than two decades later, America’s soldiers would be again called to duty, 

this time to confront the gravest threat to individual freedom in world history. 

As World War II ended with the defeat of 

the Axis powers, Birmingham’s Raymond 

Weeks, a Navy veteran, began a new mission 

that would define the rest of his life: ensuring 

that the service and sacrifices of all of America’s men and women in uniform would not be 

forgotten. 

In 1945, the concept of a National Veterans 

Day became fixed in his mind. In 1946, he 

personally took a petition and a proposed program, ‘‘National Veterans Day 1947,’’ urging 

the creation of a national holiday to honor all 

veterans to General Dwight Eisenhower, who 

was then the Army Chief of Staff. In 1954, 

then-President Eisenhower signed legislation 

formally establishing November 11 as Veterans Day. 

In presenting the Presidential Citizens 

Medal to Raymond Weeks on Veterans Day 


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