E1500 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks September 12, 2012 

colleagues join me in recognizing a gifted individual, Luis ‘‘White Shoes’’ Martinez. 

f 

RECOGNIZING THE TRINKA DAVIS 

VETERANS VILLAGE 

HON. LYNN A. WESTMORELAND 

OF GEORGIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, September 12, 2012 

Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, I 

come to you today to recognize the grand 

opening of the Trinka Davis Veterans Village 

in Carrollton, Georgia on September 28, 2012. 

This is a momentous event for the 3rd district, 

and I am proud to help honor their great service to our nation’s brave veterans. 

The Trinka Davis Veterans Village would not 

have been possible without the $17 million donation from the Trinka Davis Foundation. Ms. 

Katherine ‘‘Trinka’’ Rynne Davis was a Carroll 

County business leader who was profoundly 

impacted after learning of the difficulties our 

veterans and their families face on a daily 

basis. She founded the Trinka Davis Foundation on November 9, 2004 and focused the 

majority of the funding on improving the lives 

of our soldiers and healing the trauma from 

deployment in Afghanistan and Iraq. 

Following her unexpected death, Ms. Davis 

left her entire estate to her foundation. Over 

$25 million was left to aid our veterans and 

their families. In working with the Atlanta VA 

Medical center, the Foundation developed the 

concept of the Veterans Village to best serve 

the needs of our local veterans in rehabilitating injuries and problems faced upon coming home; such as loss of limbs, traumatic 

brain injuries, depression, PTSD, unemployment, and loss of homes. 

The Trinka Davis Veterans Village has been 

built to serve as both a medical office and 

community living center for veterans across 

Georgia. Through regional research, the Foundation Board learned that veterans in the Bowden and Atlanta area needed a Community 

Based Outpatient Clinic and nursing facility in 

Carrollton, Georgia. Without the donations 

from the Trinka Davis Foundation, the construction and operation of the village would 

never have become a reality. The facility anticipates around 3,000 veterans in the area will 

use the primary care services, and with 42 

beds, rehabilitation will be more accessible 

than before. The facility will have a family-centered approach to treatment and will let residents and family members of the village be 

more involved in their care. The Trinka Davis 

Veterans Village will also provide home-based 

care for patients who cannot travel to the clinic. 

I would like to thank Trinka Davis, who I 

know is smiling down from above, her wonderful Foundation and the Atlanta VA for their 

hard work and donations to make the Veterans Village possible. The Trinka Davis Veterans Village is a great step in improving veteran care in our great state and helps us to 

give back to our veterans who have given everything so that we can live free. 

CONGRATULATING EAST TENNESSEE FOUNDATION IN KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE 

HON. JOHN J. DUNCAN, JR. OF TENNESSEE

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, September 12, 2012 

Mr. DUNCAN of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, 

today I wish to congratulate East Tennessee 

Foundation in Knoxville, Tennessee, on obtaining its National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations accreditation from the 

Community Foundations National Standards 

Board. 

East Tennessee Foundation is headed by 

my longtime friend Michael McClamroch. 

Mike is one of the hardest working and finest men I know, and I am very proud of his 

leadership of East Tennessee Foundation and 

all the great work it does for East Tennessee. 

In the United States, community foundations 

serve tens of thousands of donors, administer 

more than $40 billion in charitable funds, and 

address the core concerns of more than 700 

communities and regions. 

Achieving this accreditation is a rigorous 

process, demonstrating that East Tennessee 

Foundation has a commitment to the highest 

standards possible. 

I want to again congratulate my friend, Mike 

McClamroch, and East Tennessee Foundation 

on receiving its National Standards accreditation and commend the foundation’s dedicated 

service to East Tennessee. 

f 

IN HONOR OF LIEUTENANT 

COLONEL BILL RHEA STARNES 

HON. H. MORGAN GRIFFITH OF VIRGINIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, September 12, 2012 

Mr. GRIFFITH of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, on 

behalf of myself and Representative PHIL ROE, 

I submit these remarks in honor of Lieutenant 

Colonel Bill Rhea Starnes, a veteran and distinguished pilot, who was prematurely taken 

from us on August 24, 2012. 

As a member of both the United States Air 

Force and the Tennessee Army National 

Guard, Bill gallantly served our country for 39 

years. At the ripe old age of 14, his love for 

aviation was first cultivated when his father 

taught him how to fly a plane. After graduating 

from East Tennessee State University, Bill 

continued his flight training at Fort Rucker in 

Alabama. Following flight school, Bill served in 

Vietnam, where he flew approximately 800 

combat hours. In 2005 and 2006, he was deployed to Kosovo. Throughout his military career, Bill demonstrated the courage, fortitude, 

and wisdom that a nation prays for and a military dreams of having. He was the recipient of 

nearly 50 awards including the Bronze Star, 

the Meritorious Service Medal, and air medals 

with valor and army commendation. 

Even down to his voicemail—‘‘Hello, it’s Bill. 

Learn as if you will live forever, and live as if 

you will die tomorrow,’’—Bill embodied a 

strong desire to live life to the fullest. Though 

he didn’t reside in the Ninth District, I assure 

you, Bill was an active member of our community. As the chief pilot for K-VA-T Food Stores 

and Central Coal Company, he was even said 

to be a ‘‘fixture’’ at the Virginia Highlands Airport. 

A committed family man, a man who loved 

God and his country, and a friend of many, Bill 

will be greatly missed by his colleagues and 

those he served. My thoughts and prayers go 

out to his wife, Lisa; his two sons; his father; 

his family; and his friends. 

Well known for his exceptional goodwill and 

dedication to the United States military and 

our community, I am honored to pay tribute to 

this man’s many contributions. His legacy and 

influence will be long remembered throughout 

our region. 

f 

HONORNG MEL BIRDWELL 

HON. BILL FLORES 

OF TEXAS

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, September 12, 2012 

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

recognize and honor Mrs. Mel Birdwell, the 

wife of Texas State Senator Brian Birdwell. 

She has been one of the most active and visible spouses of a Hood County elected official 

on the local, state or national level. 

For three years Mrs. Birdwell has served on 

the board of the Republican Women of Hood 

County. During this time she has assisted with 

expanding the party, as well as, securing copies of the Constitution and Declaration of Independence to give to every 5th grade student 

in every Hood County elementary school. 

Mrs. Birdwell has served on the board of the 

Boys and Girls Club of Hood County where 

she had extensive positive influences for the 

children in our community. 

One of Mrs. Birdwell’s most significant accomplishments would be to that of her and 

Senator Birdwell’s Face the Fire Ministry. This 

ministry assists burn survivors and wounded 

servicemen and women and their families. 

Mrs. Birdwell and her husband began this ministry after her husband’s recovery from severe 

burns due to the 9/11 terrorist attack of the 

Pentagon. Because her husband’s duties as 

Senator require much of his attention, Mel has 

single-handedly taken charge of the ministry. 

Mrs. Birdwell is also a role model for wives 

and mothers everywhere in her loyalty to her 

husband. When presented by the military with 

a form for her signature which read ‘‘soldier’s 

death imminent within 72 hours’’, Mrs. Birdwell 

fought for them to do whatever it takes to ensure the survival of her husband. Her never 

ending fight for his life and God’s intervention 

is why we have Senator Birdwell with us 

today. 

In 2002, Mrs. Birdwell was presented with 

the fourth annual Robertson McQuilkin Award 

for Commitment to Marriage by Family Life 

Ministries. In 2004, the Department of the 

Army recognized her 17 plus years of service 

to the Army family with the Outstanding Civilian Service Medal. 

Today we recognize and honor Mrs. Mel 

Birdwell’s devotion, dedication and loyalty to 

our Nation, our state, our county, and her family. 


jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with REMARKS