September 11, 2012 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E1483 

States values their efforts and will keep 

human rights at the center of our relationship. 

The United States has taken important 

steps to demonstrate that that we hope to 

build a common future with Vietnam built on 

cooperation, development, and peace. In recent years, we have maintained a robust program of bilateral aid to Vietnam because it is 

in our national interest and it is in the interest 

of the people of Vietnam. 

But Vietnam cannot reach its potential as a 

nation if its people are denied basic rights. 

And sadly, the government of Vietnam is taking the country backwards in terms of human 

freedom. These two bills make clear that a 

good relationship requires progress on this 

critical issue. 

f 

CELEBRATING 90TH BIRTHDAY OF 

ALVAR ‘‘AL’’ EDWIN SPERRING 

HON. JEFF DENHAM OF CALIFORNIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tuesday, September 11, 2012 

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

acknowledge and honor the life of a beloved 

veteran, Alvar ‘‘Al’’ Edwin Sperring on his 90th 

birthday. Alvar was born in San Francisco, 

California on September 18, 1922. He is the 

youngest of five brothers, born to John Edward Sperring and Anna Emily Sperring. 

Mr. Sperring’s parents moved to Sonoma, 

California during his early childhood, where he 

attended local schools and graduated from 

Sonoma Valley Union High School in 1940. 

Upon graduation, he went to work for the Pacific Telephone Company in San Francisco as 

a lineman working throughout Northern California and Nevada. 

Alvar was drafted into the United States 

Army on January 30, 1943, in San Francisco, 

California. He applied and was accepted for 

the Aviation Cadet School. He graduated from 

Pilot School on May 22, 1944, with the rank of 

Second Lieutenant at Stockton Field, Stockton, California, Class 44–E. 

On May 28, 1944, he married his high 

school sweetheart, Alyda Bernadette Picchi, at 

St. Edward’s Church in San Francisco, California. Together, they raised four sons: Roger, 

Robert, Ronald, and Randall. He is proud of 

his six grandsons and six great-grandchildren. 

Mr. Sperring’s first Air Force assignment 

was at Muroc Army Air Base in Lancaster, 

California for B–24 Liberator Bomber Pilot 

training. In 1945, he served overseas with the 

38th Bombardment Squadron stationed in 

Guam in the Pacific Theater. He was honorably discharged on April 3, 1946, with the rank 

of First Lieutenant and remained in the U.S. 

Army Air Force Reserves until November 

1963. 

Alvar returned to his former employment 

with Pacific Telephone Company in San Francisco and was promoted to Line Foreman. In 

1950, he was transferred to Lodi, California. 

Lodi had transitioned to a dial system, and he 

was instrumental in achieving that endeavor. 

He retired in 1983 with 42 years of loyal and 

dedicated service in various supervisory capacities. 

Alvar is a sixty-year member of The American Legion, active member of International 

Order of Odd Fellows, Telephone Pioneers, 

Past Big Sir of Branch 18 Sons in Retirement 

and one of the early founders of the Lodi Boys 

and Girls Club. He is a long-time member of 

the Woodbridge Golf and Country Club, where 

he plays golf three times a week. 

Mr. Speaker, please join me in honouring 

Alvar E. Sperring and expressing our congratulations on his 90th birthday. Best wishes 

to him and his family for continued success, 

happiness, and good health in years to come. 

f 

THE ANNIVERSARY OF 

SEPTEMBER 11TH 

HON. ADAM B. SCHIFF OF CALIFORNIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tuesday, September 11, 2012 

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, today, we remember those lost eleven years ago on September 11, 2001. We also remember the extraordinary acts of bravery and heroism performed by courageous passengers and crew 

on United Flight 93, by the first responders 

who rushed into burning buildings, and by the 

thousands of nameless volunteers who provided assistance on that terrible day. 

We think, too, of our troops around the 

world who stand in harm’s way, many of 

whom enlisted in the days and weeks that followed the attack on our country. And of those 

troops we have lost, and who paid the ultimate 

price for our liberty. 

For millions of Americans, September 11th 

serves a day of solemn reflection. For others, 

it has become a day of community—gathering 

together in remembrance and in service. No 

matter how we choose to remember, ours is a 

tribute that is a deeply personal one. 

We lost a great deal on that tragic day, but 

America also revealed herself to be resilient, 

and more unified and determined than ever. 


tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with REMARKS