September 20, 2012 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6539 

has had stewardship of every aspect of 

the nuclear navy, from fleet operations 

and training to reactor design and ultimate disposition of spent nuclear fuel. 

The dedication required of this mission 

is extraordinary, and our Nation has 

benefited from Admiral Donald’s steadfast leadership. 

Over the course of his career, Admiral Donald excelled as an undersea 

commander. He served as the commanding officer of the nuclear-powered 

attack submarine USS Key West, commander of the elite Submarine Development Squadron Twelve and Commander Submarine Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, and Allied Submarine Command, Atlantic. Other highlights include tours at the Bureau of Naval Personnel, the Joint Staff, and as commander of all U.S. submarine forces. 

While at Naval Reactors, he has ensured the safe operations of the nuclear 

navy. Nuclear-powered warships have 

safely steamed over 150 million miles 

and operated for more than 6,400 reactor years without an accident. The 

most recent 20 million miles and 800 reactor-years have been achieved under 

Admiral Donald’s leadership. 

Among his many achievements, one 

of the most impressive is the consistent and quiet success of the Naval 

Reactors Facility, NRF, in Idaho Falls. 

The highly complex and scientific work 

done at NRF requires not only a highly 

skilled, diligent workforce but the 

trust and confidence of the people of 

Idaho. As a result of Admiral Donald’s 

work, that confidence has flourished. 

Admiral Donald has been instrumental to the future of the Navy, having overseen the highly successful construction of many Virginia-Class attack submarines, the final design and 

construction of the next-generation 

USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier, 

and the initial design of the Ohio-class 

replacement ballistic missile submarine. All three platforms incorporate impressive new technologies 

into the nuclear propulsion plants that 

have proven to be safe and reliable for 

nearly 70 years. These ships will allow 

the Navy to continue to protect America and our interests around the globe 

and would not be possible without the 

steadfast leadership of Admiral Donald. 

Admiral Donald’s selfless commitment to serving our Nation has left us 

safer and better prepared to respond to 

threats around the world. He leaves a 

legacy of service, dedication to the 

Navy, and commitment to the environment. With our deepest gratitude, we 

wish him the very best in retirement 

after an impressive and impactful career.∑ 

f 

CANONIZATION OF BL. KATERI 

TEKAKWITHA AND BL. 

MARIANNE COPE 

∑ Mrs. GILLIBRAND. Mr. President, 

today I wish to honor the contribution 

of two great heroes, Kateri Tekakwitha 

and Marianne Cope. These two individuals from upstate New York worked 

tirelessly during their lifetimes to 

bring faith and health to every soul 

they touched. Bl. Kateri Tekakwitha 

and Bl. Marianne Cope have served as 

an inspiration for generations of the 

faithful both in America and abroad, 

and are now being recognized with the 

highest honor of sainthood. 

Bl. Kateri Tekakwitha was born in 

1656 to a Mohawk father and Algonquin 

mother along the Mohawk River in upstate New York. After surviving a devastating smallpox epidemic, Kateri was 

introduced to Christianity by Catholic 

missionaries. Despite severe disapproval by her tribe, Kateri was baptized into the church as Catherine and 

lived the rest of her life caring for the 

sick and elderly in the Mohawk River 

region. She is informally known as 

Lily of the Mohawks and will become 

the patron saint of ecology, the environment, and Native Americans. Although she died young, Kateri’s reputation as the first Native American saint 

will live forever. Her commitment to 

the Christian faith has served as an inspiration not only to Native American 

Catholics, but to all American Catholics. 

The other beatified person, Bl. 

Marianne Cope, was a member of the 

Sisters of St. Francis in Syracuse after 

growing up in Utica, NY. As the eldest 

daughter of German immigrants, she 

worked in a factory to support her family and delayed answering her religious 

calling until her siblings were self-sufficient. Once she was able to commit to 

the church, Marianne dedicated her 

work to establishing a series of hospitals, both public and Catholic, in 

Syracuse and central New York. These 

hospitals were some of the first to 

treat patients regardless of race, religion, or nationality. Marianne was also 

one of the first hospital administrators 

to advocate for patients’ rights and to 

accept medical students for clinical instruction. In 1883, she moved to Hawaii 

to care for those with leprosy, a task 

that was declined by many other religious groups. Throughout her time in 

Hawaii she remained a dedicated caretaker and symbol of hope to patients 

who had been exiled because of their 

illness. 

These two extraordinary women will 

be declared saints on October 21 in Vatican City by Pope Benedict XVI in St. 

Peter’s Square, marking the end of a 

long process of examination undergone 

by all candidates for sainthood. The 

ceremony will venerate Kateri and 

Marianne in the eyes of Catholics all 

over the world. 

I would like the U.S. Senate to honor 

Bl. Kateri Tekakwitha and Bl. 

Marianne Cope and recognize their unparalleled commitment to faith and 

their unending sacrifices for the people 

most in need across New York and our 

Nation.∑ 

f 

TRIBUTE TO SSG CHARLES ALLEN 

∑ Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, On January 22, 2011 SSG Charles Allen of 

Oklahoma lost his two legs and almost 

lost his life in an IED blast in Afghanistan in Arghandel Valley. But his will 

to live and the help of his wife and family have given this American Hero all 

the motivation he needed to win his 

battle for recovery. SSG Allen makes 

us all proud to be Americans. The following poem entitled PRAETORIANS 

was penned by Albert Caswell in his 

honor and his recovery. I ask unanimous consent that said poem be printed in the RECORD. 

There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in the 

RECORD, as follows: 

PRAETORIANS

Watch over me! Stand Guard! 

Stand Ready, Stand Long, Stand Hard! 

For you are The Spear of Freedom, that’s 

who you are! Throughout . . . 

Throughout history . . . 

There has, and will always be! Those who go 

off to war! 

Men of might, who so fight to be free! Who 

our freedoms do so secure! 

Like the Roman’s, The Praetorian’s! To 

watch over us continually! 

All the more! 

Who will stand? 

And who will fight? 

And who will do what is right? What is right! 

And who will lay down their own fine lives? 

Who will give up their strong arms and legs, 

so very bright? And make the angels 

cry! 

All in what their fine hearts have made, all 

their most magnificent lives! 

Who will so march off to war? 

And so leave all that they so love and adore! 

To watch over us throughout the night! 

Bathed all in freedom’s light! 

All in that darkness of most evil war, as onward they so fight! The Praetorian’s, 

are of the ones who so insure! 

Standing guard, the ones who so fight onward so ever more! Airborne, all for our 

victory to insure! 

Who but live to fight with their Band of 

Brothers, but just one day more! 

Magnificent Men, 

who all for our nation their fine hearts are 

Airborne! Who upon them all, the title 

of hero is now so worn! Who go but 

where angels so fear to tread! 

Even thought their fine blood runs red! 

As up to new heights their fine hearts have 

soared! 

For these are the men who are the Airborne, 

all in times of war! To Fight the Fight, 

as in their arms their brothers hearts beat 

no more! As it was on one such faithful 

tour . . . 

Charles, as when your fine heart went even 

higher, went Airborne! While, lying 

there so very close to death . . . with 

but not much left . . . When, something so deep down inside your fine 

heart, would crest . . . With your two 

legs gone and not much left . . . 

As to new heights you so pledged . . . 

For you had a family back home, 

and you held on as you would not so leave 

them so all alone. 

When, Oklahoman said his recovery would be 

Sooner not later! As you were gone . . . 

AIRBORNE! 

On the road to recover, 

beyond all of that pain and heartache moving on! As we looked back and you were 

gone! 

As now You So Teach Us! 

As now You So Reach Us! 

As a Star was born! 

And a great American family. . . . 


tjames on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE
S6540 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 20, 2012 

Out of such tragedy somehow has somehow 

moved on! With your lovely wife by 

your side . . . 

And your beautiful children in your arms as 

you’ve cried! For you had something to 

live for! 

Touching all our hearts so deep inside! 

As the word Hero Charles, in front of your 

name comes before! And one day up in 

Heaven Charles you will be Airborne! 

As a PRAETORIAN with wings, to watch 

over us once more!

f 

∑ 

TRIBUTE TO SAM HAMRA 

∑ Mrs. MCCASKILL. Mr. President, I 

rise today to honor and congratulate 

my friend, Mr. Sam Hamra. 

Born in Steele, MD, Sam received 

both business and law degrees from the 

University of Missouri and served as an 

officer in the U.S. Army Field Artillery 

and Second Armored Cavalry Regiment. He began practicing law in 

Springfield, MO, and later became the 

city attorney for Nixa and St. Robert 

and the governmental relations attorney for Branson. 

As Sam’s practice became more successful, he never forgot his modest 

roots, or those less fortunate. In 1976, 

Sam was elected president of the newly 

formed Legal Aid Association of Green 

County, MO, known today as the Legal 

Services of Southern Missouri, LSSM. 

The Legal Aid Association was created 

to help low income citizens whose legal 

needs would otherwise be unmet. Under 

Sam’s leadership, LSSM has helped 

thousands of Missourians in 43 counties. 

On October 11, Legal Services of 

Southern Missouri will dedicate their 

new building, the ‘‘Sam F. Hamra Center for Justice.’’ It is my hope that this 

building will help LSSM provide services to Missourians for many years to 

come. 

In addition to his contributions to 

the legal community, Sam is very active in many local organizations. He 

served on the board of the Missouri 

Sports Hall of Fame, the Springfield 

area Sports Hall of Fame, and the 

Springfield/Branson Transportation 

Study Committee. As the chairman of 

the Springfield Chamber of Commerce 

Building Fund, he raised over $300,000 

for the construction of a new Chamber 

building. 

Sam’s dedicated service is an inspiration to all Missourians. His achievements and commitment to helping 

those in need deserves the highest commemoration and I am proud to honor 

him today. 

Mr. President, I ask that the Senate 

join me in honoring and congratulating 

Mr. Sam Hamra.

f 

∑ 

HONORING TECHNICAL SERGEANT 

BRIAN BELL 

∑ Mrs. SHAHEEN. Mr. President, it is 

with a heavy heart that I rise today to 

pay tribute to the life of Technical 

SGT Brian A. Bell, who died at the age 

of 54 at his home in Brookfield, NH on 

August 5. Brian served his country 

bravely for 29 years in both the 157th 

Air Refueling Wing of the New Hampshire Air National Guard, and in the 

United States Navy, deploying to Kuwait in 2005 and 2011. 

Besides his love of country, Brian 

was best known for his deep devotion 

to his family and friends. He appreciated the small things in life such as 

going to concerts with his wife, heading out on fishing or hiking trips and 

going kayaking. He took so much joy 

in being a grandfather to his two 

grandchildren, James and Jocelyne. 

Brian dedicated more than half of his 

life to defending our Nation, a devotion 

matched by his loyalty to his community. People who knew Brian say he 

was always willing to lend a helping 

hand when it was needed. His friends 

and loved ones knew him as a man 

driven by a fierce determination to defend the freedom we hold dear as Americans. Our country is better off today 

because of his efforts. 

Today and every day, Americans like 

Brian heed the call to defend this great 

nation. They offer their service so we 

may live freely and securely. I hope 

that, even at this challenging time, 

Brian’s family can find comfort in 

knowing that we share a deep appreciation for his life in the service of others. 

Brian is survived by his loving wife 

Christine, daughter Natasha Nemetz, 

mother Helen Sue Bickford, brother 

James D. Bell, III, sister Rosanne 

Combs, and his beloved grandchildren. 

He will be loved and missed by all. 

I ask my colleagues and all Americans to please join me in honoring the 

life and service of Technical SGT Brian 

A. Bell.∑ 

f 

HONORING STAFF SERGEANT 

BRANDON CULLEN-TOWLE 

∑ Mrs. SHAHEEN. Mr. President, it is 

my sad duty to rise in tribute today to 

the brave service of Staff Sergeant 

Brandon Cullen-Towle. Staff Sergeant 

Cullen-Towle, who was known as ‘‘CT’’ 

to his friends, died on August 25 in a 

motorcycle accident. He was as dedicated to his country as he was to his 

family and friends. 

Brandon was born on April 29, 1987 in 

Dover, NH. He graduated from Dover 

High School where he was a three-sport 

athlete, playing football, basketball 

and baseball. Brandon briefly attended 

the University of New Hampshire before realizing his true calling to serve 

our nation in the United States Air 

Force. 

Brandon successfully completed his 

basic training at Lackland Air Force 

Base in Texas and was assigned as a 

Tactical Air Control Party Member in 

the 14th Air Support Operations Squadron in Pope Field, NC. In this role, 

Brandon was responsible for calling in 

air strikes to support ground forces. He 

performed exceptionally well during 

his three tours of duty in Afghanistan; 

he took his responsibility seriously and 

it showed. In fact, Brandon’s skill 

earned him a spot with the Special Operations Forces Tactical Air Control 

Party in the 21st Special Tactics 

Squadron. 

Brandon received many awards for 

his service, including the Order of the 

Purple Heart, three Army Commendation Medals, the Air Force Commendation Medal and an Army Achievement 

Medal. Most impressively of all, President Obama and Chief of Staff of the 

Air Force General Norton Schwartz 

personally recognized Brandon for his 

courageous service during a mortar attack in Afghanistan. After being injured himself in the fight, Brandon 

saved an interpreter’s life and called in 

an airstrike that successfully secured 

the base and neutralized the threat. He 

demonstrated great courage and tremendous poise under incredible pressure. 

Brandon is remembered by family 

and friends as a giving person with an 

infectious laugh and a contagious 

smile. Always willing to lend a hand to 

those in need, Brandon consistently 

put others before himself. He valued 

his relationships and had an impact on 

everyone with whom he came in contact; people simply gravitated toward 

him. 

Our Nation can never adequately 

thank. this young New Hampshire son 

for his willingness to serve his country 

and to protect our freedom, and also 

never fully thank his family enough for 

their sacrifice. I hope that Brandon’s 

family knows that all Americans share 

a deep appreciation and abiding respect 

for his brave service. 

Brandon is survived by his mother 

Laura Towle and her husband Dennis; 

his father Brad Cullen; his stepfather, 

Mike Towle; two sisters, Stephanie and 

Kaylee Towle; brother Kameron Towle; 

his significant other Marlena CullenTowle; grandparents Norma and James 

Hughes, Fern Cullen, Rick and Kay 

Towle; and many aunts, uncles, cousins 

and friends. This young hero will be 

missed by all. 

I ask my colleagues and all Americans to please join me in honoring 

Staff Sergeant Brandon Cullen-Towle.

f 

∑ 

HONORING SPECIALIST JARED 

DAVISON 

∑ Mrs. SHAHEEN. Mr. President, I rise 

today to honor the life and service of 

U.S. Army SPC Jared Davison. Specialist Davison, who died unexpectedly 

on September 4, was a dedicated servicemember, son, brother, and friend. 

Jared was born on February 20, 1988 

in Boston, MA. He graduated from Milford High School in 2006 and went on to 

attend Norwich Academy in Vermont 

and then the prestigious U.S. Military 

Academy at West Point, NY. Jared 

served as a watercraft engineer with 

the 558th Transportation Company, 

Special Troops Battalion, 7th 

Sustainment Brigade at Fort Eustis in 

Virginia. Before his death, Jared was 

working toward a promotion to sergeant. 

Jared first realized his passion to 

serve in the military on a family trip 


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