September 21, 2012 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E1601 

the 2nd Brigade, 1st Armored Division. Upon 

redeploying to Germany after fifteen months in 

Iraq, the battalion conducted reset and fullspectrum operations training in preparation to 

deploy again in late 2005. 

From 2005 to 2007, LTC Williams returned 

to the Office of the Chief of Legislative Liaison 

to serve as the Legislative Assistant to the 

Vice Chief of Staff, Army (VCSA). He stood 

out amongst his peers and made himself an 

indispensible part of the VCSA’s personal 

staff. 

From 2007 to 2009, he was promoted to 

Colonel and led the division within OCLL that 

develops the congressional engagement strategy for the Secretary, Chief of Staff, Under 

Secretary, Vice Chief of Staff, and Sergeant 

Major of the Army. He performed exceptionally. He personally improved the Army’s strategic communication with the Congress, and 

developed the engagement strategy and legislative objectives for the Army’s Senior Leadership. 

From 2009 to 2012, COL Williams performed duties as the Chief of Programs. He 

expertly led the planning of the Army’s congressional engagement strategies between 

senior Army Staff leaders and Members of 

Congress, leading directly to a defense authorizations bill that enhanced the Army’s ability to recruit, retain, and reset the world’s premiere fighting force. 

Through these varying assignments, COL 

Williams provided outstanding leadership, advice, and sound professional judgment on critical issues of enduring importance to both the 

Army and Congress. On behalf of Congress, I 

thank COL Williams, his wife Helen, and his 

entire family for the commitment, sacrifices, 

and contribution they have made throughout 

his honorable military career. Congratulations 

on completing an exceptional and successful 

career. 

f 

IN HONOR OF MS. SYLVIA 

RUCINSKI 

HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH OF OHIO

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, September 20, 2012 

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

honor of Ms. Sylvia Rucinski who is being 

honored by the Polonia Foundation on October 7, 2012. 

Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, Sylvia 

attended Miles Elementary School and graduated from Holy Name High School. She later 

attended Cuyahoga Community College and 

John Carroll University. Before beginning her 

22 year career at the Alliance of Poles of 

America, Sylvia held a number of different positions. She previously held jobs with Harris 

Seybold, Grabler Manufacturing and several 

school and public libraries. 

Sylvia has been a long-time and active 

member of the Polish-American community. 

She has been the director for the Alliance of 

Poles Federal Credit Union and Ohio Division 

of the Polish American Congress. She also 

served as the recording secretary of Circle 9 

of the Alliance of Poles. Because of her unwavering service, Sylvia has been acknowledged by the Alliance of Poles as the recipient 

of the 2004 Meritorious Service Medal and 

Award and named the 2003 Grand Lady of 

Pulaski by the Polonia Foundation. 

Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join me 

in honoring Mrs. Sylvia Rucinski and congratulating her as she is recognized by the Polonia 

Foundation. 

f 

HONORING MR. OLIVER SIEBERT 

OF CHESTERFIELD, MISSOURI 

HON. W. TODD AKIN 

OF MISSOURI

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, September 20, 2012 

Mr. AKIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor 

Mr. Oliver Siebert of Chesterfield, Missouri. 

The French government recently awarded Mr. 

Siebert the Legion of Honor for his part in the 

liberation of Strasbourg, France. The medal 

and the accompanying title of Knight of the 

Legion of Honor is the highest military award 

given by the French government. 

Mr. Siebert, just twenty years old, was an 

acting second lieutenant leading the 324th infantry battalion and the 220th field artillery in 

November 1944. American forces, operating 

jointly with elements of the French Second Armored Division under the command of Captain 

Jean Penet, fought across the Vosges Mountains in the French Alps throughout October 

and November 1944. On 23 November 1944 

elements of the French Army entered 

Strasbourg and liberated the city. 

Mr. Siebert’s service did not end with the 

liberation of Strasbourg. While conducting operations in support of the assault of Hangviller 

on 27 November 1944, Mr. Siebert and a 

small group of American soldiers were captured by German SS soldiers disguised as 

U.S. troops. Three days later, after overpowering two SS officers and commandeering 

their car, he was able to escape and return to 

his duties as an artillery forward observer. 

On Christmas Day 1944 a German shell 

landed not far from his forward observation 

post and caused severe damage to his right 

leg. German strafing of the ambulance that 

evacuated him that night caused further damage that would require extensive surgery and 

lengthy convalescence to repair. After treatment at several American military hospitals, 

Mr. Siebert was honorably discharged on 18 

August 1945. 

Mr. Siebert returned to St. Louis, earned a 

degree in mechanical engineering from Washington University and in 1948 married Virginia 

Turner, his wife now for more than 63 years. 

I am truly honored to have the opportunity 

to share this heroic story. This son of a truck 

driver for Anheuser-Busch, despite initially 

being rejected for military service because he 

was ‘‘clinically blind’’, did not give up his quest 

to do his part to defeat Nazi Germany. And 

now, almost seventy years later, I join the 

French government in honoring his sacrifice 

and service to the French people and these 

United States. 

Mr. Siebert, thank you. And may God Bless 

you and your family. 

CONGRATULATING MR. DEREK 

CAVILLA FOR COMPLETING THE 

NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART’S 

SUMMER TEACHER INSTITUTE 

HON. DANIEL WEBSTER OF FLORIDA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, September 20, 2012 

Mr. WEBSTER. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to recognize Mr. Derek Cavilla of Orlando, 

Florida, a teacher at Workforce Advantage 

Academy, upon his completion of the National 

Gallery of Art’s Annual Summer Teacher Institute. During the National Gallery’s six-day 

seminar, Mr. Cavilla intensively studied the 

foundation of twentieth-century art by examining the pioneering artists of French impressionism and post-impressionism. 

In order for participants to be accepted in to 

the Gallery’s Teacher Institute seminar, they 

must first complete a rigorous application 

process. Mr. Cavilla was one of only forty-five 

teachers from across the nation chosen to 

participate in this year’s National Gallery of 

Art’s Teacher Institute. From this seminar, 

teachers are able to return to their schools 

and students with new tools and ideas that will 

enhance education curriculum of all grade levels and subjects. The students of Central Florida are blessed to have such a dedicated educator as Mr. Cavilla. 

On behalf of the citizens of Central Florida, 

I am pleased to recognize and congratulate 

Mr. Derek Cavilla on his acceptance to and 

successful completion of the National Gallery 

of Art’s Annual Summer Teacher Institute. 

May his dedication to our nation’s educational 

institutions and students inspire others to follow in his footsteps. 

f 

FIRST ANNUAL AMERICA’S 

FAMILY DAY 

HON. JOE BARTON OF TEXAS

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, September 20, 2012 

Mr. BARTON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, on October 6, there will be an event taking place in 

Santa Monica, CA that I would like to highlight. This event will be the First Annual America’s Family Day. The purpose of this event 

will be to celebrate families and to stress the 

importance of protecting and investing in our 

children. 

On March 7, 2012, the Bi-Partisan Privacy 

Caucus, in which I serve as the co-Chairman, 

held a briefing to directly highlight H.R. 1895, 

the Do Not Track Kids Act of 2011. On our 

panel, we were joined by Nick Cannon, 

Spokesperson for Safe Communications, who 

shared the same passion of ensuring that our 

children are protected across all platforms. He 

graciously publicly endorsed H.R. 1895 and 

has decided to champion the cause by holding 

the very first America’s Family Day. 

I believe that Republicans and Democrats 

alike can agree that family is a sacred institution that deserves our time, energy, and devotion. I am blessed to have a loving wife, four 

wonderful children, two stepchildren, and five 

grandchildren. I want nothing more than to do 

my part to make sure they are secure, safe, 

and well protected. In this sentiment, I am 


tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with REMARKS