September 21, 2012 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E1613 

shown generosity and compassion by donating to the reconstruction effort. 

In honoring Taiwan’s National Day, we need 

to continue to support their efforts under the 

framework of the Taiwan Relations Act, to ensure that our ally has the capability to defend 

herself. Moreover, as Taiwan is our 10th largest trading partner, I believe we should seek 

ways to further enhance the bilateral trade relationship. 

To the people of Taiwan, I extend my congratulations on their National Day. Our mutual 

relations will continue to be strengthened in future years. 

f 

HONORING OUR NATION’S HEROES 

ON NATIONAL POW-MIA RECOGNITION DAY 

HON. DANIEL LIPINSKI OF ILLINOIS

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Friday, September 21, 2012 

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

observance of National POW/MIA Recognition 

Day and to express my gratitude to the soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines who have 

suffered unimaginable hardships as prisoners 

of war and to those courageous service members who remain missing in action. 

One of the great tragedies of war is the inability of a family to lay a beloved fallen service member in a final appropriate resting place 

at home here in the United States. Sadly, 

since World War II, the families of over 84,000 

servicemen and women are left to wonder the 

fate of their family member who went missing 

in action. My thoughts and prayers go out to 

these service members and their families; that 

these Americans heroes may find peace, and 

that one day we can return them home. 

During the same time period, more than 

138,000 brave American service members 

have been detained as prisoners of war, with 

many suffering through barbaric treatment by 

their captors. POWs have seen and experienced some of the most horrific acts of which 

mankind is capable, and they certainly deserve our unending recognition and gratitude. 

The loyalty and bravery they demonstrate 

while at the hands of our enemies cannot be 

overstated. 

While we pause to remember the sacrifice 

so many brave men and women have made 

for our country, we must also thank those who 

have worked tirelessly to find and return home 

those who went missing. The Defense Prisoner of War and Missing Personnel Office 

(DPMO) is responsible for the investigation 

and recovery process for missing service 

members. The DPMO also works closely with 

the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command, or 

JPAC, which is responsible for worldwide investigations, recoveries, and identifications. 

Together, and with other dedicated private organizations, DPMO and JPAC do the difficult 

work of bringing our service members home to 

rest and bringing closure to their families. 

I was honored to be a part of the effort of 

JPAC returning to the south Pacific island of 

Betio, where the historic battle of Tarawa took 

place in World War II. One of the first Marine 

beach assaults of the war, an entrenched Japanese force inflicted immense casualties on 

U.S. forces, yet after 76 hours of battle, our 

victorious troops raised the American flag 

above the battlefield. Unfortunately, among the 

1100 Marines, soldiers and sailors lost in this 

engagement, 564 remain unrecovered and lost 

in battle. Following language I was able to include in a defense authorization bill in 2010, 

JPAC has returned to Tarawa for one recovery mission in 2010, and plans another for 

next year. I will continue to promote the recovery of these servicemen until they are home. 

Since 1979, our nation has observed National POW/MIA Recognition Day to remember 

those who were prisoners of war (POW) and 

those who are missing in action (MIA), as well 

as their families. That year, Congress passed 

a resolution to mark the third Friday of September as a day to ensure Americans would 

never forget. I encourage my colleagues and 

all Americans to take a moment today to remember those who sacrificed for our freedom. 

We are all forever indebted to these men 

and women, and on this somber day, we must 

reiterate our promise that ‘‘We will not forget.’’ 

f 

HONORING AARON RILEY 

BRADSHAW 

HON. SAM GRAVES OF MISSOURI

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Friday, September 21, 2012 

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I 

proudly pause to recognize Aaron Riley Bradshaw. Aaron is a very special young man who 

has exemplified the finest qualities of citizenship and leadership by taking an active part in 

the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 271, and 

earning the most prestigious award of Eagle 

Scout. 

Aaron has been very active with his troop, 

participating in many scout activities. Over the 

many years Aaron has been involved with 

scouting, he has not only earned numerous 

merit badges, but also the respect of his family, peers, and community. Most notably, 

Aaron has refused to see his autism as a 

handicap, but rather as an opportunity to grow 

and thrive as an individual. His journey to the 

rank of Eagle Scout has been an inspiration 

for his friends, fellow scouts and especially his 

family, all of whom are extremely proud of 

what he has accomplished as an Eagle Scout. 

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in 

commending Aaron Riley Bradshaw for his accomplishments with the Boy Scouts of America and for his efforts put forth in achieving the 

highest distinction of Eagle Scout. 

f 

CELEBRATING NATIONAL GEAR UP 

WEEK 

HON. CHAKA FATTAH OF PENNSYLVANIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Friday, September 21, 2012 

Mr. FATTAH. Mr. Speaker, last week the 

nation celebrated National GEAR UP Week. 

Communities across the country committed 

themselves to a brighter future for their students and families and emphasized the important role college plays in future success. I 

would like to draw the attention of my colleagues to a few of these celebrations. Governors in Arizona, Hawaii, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Washington, Wisconsin and North 

Carolina received proclamations from their 

governors. In Santa Ana and Sacramento, 

California and Roswell, New Mexico, they received proclamations from their mayors. 

Our colleagues Mr. LUNGREN and Ms. MATSUI issued proclamations celebrating the 

GEAR UP work in their Districts. In San 

Marcos, California they hosted an inaugural 

GEAR UP partnership reception with their 

local Chamber of Commerce and presented 

certificates of recognition to Congressman 

HUNTER and State Senator Mark Wyland. In 

Waterbury, Connecticut they held a middle 

school parent evening and were joined by 

special guest NBA star, Ryan Gomes. Congressman HANNA issued a proclamation and 

Congressman REYES presented a letter to the 

GEAR UP community in Deep South Texas. 

Congressman CUELLAR spoke to students in 

Laredo, Texas along with Debra SaundersWhite from the US Department of Education. 

Many other GEAR UP partnership and state 

grantees conducted college scavenger hunts, 

created Dream Walls, discussed the college 

experience of school faculty and staff and engaged parents and partners. 

I’m proud of the hard work of our students, 

their parents, and GEAR UP program staff 

and I know I speak for this body when I say 

congratulations on what you have accomplished so far and best of luck in the school 

year ahead! 

f 

CONGRATULATING MS. DIANE 

SCHRIER FOR COMPLETING THE 

NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART’S 

SUMMER TEACHER INSTITUTE 

HON. DANIEL WEBSTER OF FLORIDA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Friday, September 21, 2012 

Mr. WEBSTER. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to recognize Ms. Diane Schrier of Ocala, 

Florida, a teacher at Fort King Middle School, 

upon her completion of the National Gallery of 

Art’s Annual Summer Teacher Institute. During 

the National Gallery’s six-day seminar, Ms. 

Schrier 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. Ms. Schrier 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 Ms. Schrier. 

On behalf of the citizens of Central Florida, 

I am pleased to recognize and congratulate 

Ms. Diane Schrier on her acceptance to and 

successful completion of the National Gallery 

of Art’s Annual Summer Teacher Institute. 

May her dedication to our nation’s educational 

institutions and students inspire others to follow in her footsteps. 


tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with REMARKS