September 21, 2012 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E1591 

In collaboration with generous donors and 

volunteers, members of the Coral Springs 

community built the September 11th Memorial 

at the Coral Springs NW Regional Library in 

2001. This memorial was dedicated to those 

lost in New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia, 

and honors the residents who lost their immediate family members. 

I applaud the efforts of the City of Coral 

Springs in commemorating the September 

11th tragedy, and feel blessed to have been 

able to participate in the 5K Inaugural Walk to 

Remember in the City of Coral Springs this 

year. I thank the community for their dedication. My family and I join with the families in 

Coral Springs and throughout the country to 

remember those we lost on September 11, 

2001. 

f 

IN HONOR OF MR. JOSEPH 

HAMMELL 

HON. ROBERT E. ANDREWS OF NEW JERSEY

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, September 20, 2012 

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

honor Mr. Joseph Hammell, a retiring veteran 

who has served in three separate branches of 

the U.S. Military. 

Mr. Hammell began his career with the 

United States Marine Corps in 1969 when he 

was 17 years old. After training, he was stationed at Camp Pendleton, California before 

being deployed to Okinawa, Japan, the Philippines, and Vietnam. After his service with 

the Marine Corps ended in 1974, Mr. Hammell 

joined the U.S. Army. During his time in the 

Army, Mr. Hammell was stationed at Fort Dix, 

New Jersey where he worked as an instructor 

at the base’s truck driving school. In 1977, he 

left the Army, but came back after 14 years to 

join the New Jersey Air National Guard. In the 

Air National Guard he was a member of the 

170th Air Refueling Wing. Within the Wing he 

served as an equipment operator for the 170th 

Civil Engineering Squadron. After the 170th 

Air Refueling Wing disbanded, he was absorbed into the 108th Air Refueling Wing 

where he continued his service as an equipment operator. He served within the 108th Air 

Refueling Wing as a member of the 108th 

Civil Engineering Squadron until 2007 as a 

work controller. He then moved to the 108th 

Safety Office where he finished out his career 

as the 108th Ground Safety Manager. 

In addition to his service, Mr. Hammell is an 

active member of the American Legion and 

the Marine Corps League where he is a tireless advocate for homeless veterans. Specifically, he has worked with and supported the 

Stand Down for Homeless Veterans for 16 

years, a nonprofit organization that assists 

male veterans who are struggling due to mental and/or physical ailments, addictions, homelessness and/or other personal issues. It helps 

veterans regain their lives through a multitiered program, transitional living, and collaborative efforts. 

Mr. Speaker, the extraordinary commitment 

of this New Jersey veteran should not go unrecognized. I join all of South Jersey in expressing our profound gratitude and thanks for 

Mr. Hammell as he retires from his more than 

42 years of remarkable service to our country. 

HONORING THE SERVICE OF 

ADMIRAL KIRKLAND DONALD 

HON. JOE COURTNEY OF CONNECTICUT

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, September 20, 2012 

Mr. COURTNEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today, 

along with my friend and fellow co-chair of the 

bipartisan House Shipbuilding Caucus, Representative ROB WITTMAN of Virginia, to honor 

Admiral Kirkland Donald, U.S. Navy, as he 

prepares to retire upon completion of more 

than 37 years of faithful service to our Nation. 

Admiral Donald has held the position of Director, Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program 

(Naval Reactors), for the last eight years. During his illustrious career, he played a pivotal 

role in ensuring that nuclear-powered warships 

continued to meet our global commitments in 

defense of our Nation’s security. 

Throughout his many years of service, Admiral Donald distinguished himself at the tip of 

the Navy’s spear. 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 of NATO’s Submarine Forces in Europe. Other highlights include tours at the Bureau of Naval Personnel, 

the Joint Staff, and as Commander of all US 

Submarine Forces. 

As his time in Washington has shown, Admiral Donald’s accomplishments do not end 

with his excellence as an undersea commander. Nuclear-powered warships have safely steamed over 150 million miles, and operated for more than 6,400 reactor years without 

a reactor accident. The last 20 million miles 

and 800 reactor-years have been achieved 

under Admiral Donald’s superb leadership 

overseeing more than 100 operational nuclear 

reactors. 

Admiral Donald has been particularly passionate about our submarine force and the investment in our current and future undersea 

programs. At a time when submarines are 

playing an increasingly vital role in our national security, Admiral Donald has been at 

the forefront of making the case for the need 

for robust construction of new Virginia class 

submarines—and has kept a steady hand on 

this crucial program at a time when a cooperative effort between the Navy and our shipbuilding reduced the cost and construction 

schedule of each new submarine. At a time 

when every corner of our government is challenged to find savings to ensure the most efficient use of taxpayer dollars, Admiral Donald 

has helped to guide this shining example of 

acquisition excellence. 

Today, these incredible submarines are deployed worldwide, from the arctic to the equator, protecting Americans and our values. 

Their missions would not be possible without 

the ships’ nuclear propulsion plants, impeccably designed and built by Admiral Donald 

and his team. I can speak from personal experience about the passion that Admiral Donald 

brings to this incredible responsibility. 

When I first came to Congress in 2007 as 

a new member of the House Armed Services 

Committee, Admiral Donald and his team were 

among the first in my office in those early 

days to help educate me on the importance of 

our nuclear powered submarines and the 

value they bring to our nation. In particular, he 

invited me to join an ‘‘Ice Expedition’’ on board 

the USS Alexandria—a two day voyage under 

the Arctic ice which was an opportunity to see 

firsthand the capability of the these extraordinary vessels. 

Further, Admiral Donald oversaw the final 

design and construction of the nuclear propulsion plant for the Nation’s next-generation aircraft carrier class—the first new aircraft carrier 

design in over 40 years. Owing much to his 

leadership, the USS Gerald R. Ford propulsion 

plant will triple the electrical power available 

for transformational technology, reduce reactor 

compartment manning by nearly 50 percent, 

and increase ship operational availability by 

nearly 25 percent. 

As Director, Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program, Admiral Donald’s commitment to environmental stewardship and public health and 

safety helped foster the highest degree of 

public trust. He worked tirelessly to develop 

and implement a robust process of preparing 

the nation’s spent naval nuclear fuel to be 

stored safely for centuries. His foresight and 

execution give the American people great confidence that the nuclear Navy will continue to 

be safe and environmentally responsible for 

generations to come. 

Mr. Speaker, Admiral Donald has been a 

thoughtful, forward-looking and hands-on leader for our nation’s Naval Nuclear Propulsion 

Program, and his stewardship of this highly effective, responsive and world-class organization has set an example for all our nation’s civilian and military leaders. Along with Representative WITTMAN and my colleagues in the 

House of Representatives, I wish him ‘‘Fair 

Winds and Following Seas’’ as he completes 

his honorable and distinguished service in the 

U.S. Navy, and wish he and his wife Diane the 

best as they embark on the next chapter of 

their lives. 

f 

IN RECOGNITION OF THE BLACK 

SHIELD POLICE ASSOCIATION 

HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH OF OHIO

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, September 20, 2012 

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

recognition of the Black Shield Police Association, BSPA, an organization of dedicated minority police officers that are committed to 

serving our communities throughout the Greater Cleveland area. 

The BSPA was originally founded in 1946 

as the Shield Club, which was designed to assist black officers in maintaining and strengthening self-esteem within an atmosphere of indifference. The Shield Club was a social club 

for black officers who were, at the time, prohibited from joining organizations that were for 

white police officers. In 1969, the Shield Club 

was officially chartered as a non-profit organization and was the third oldest black police organization in the U.S. The Shield Club officially became the Black Shield Police Association in 1978. By 2000, the National Black Police Association expanded to an international 

organization with members in the United Kingdom, Canada and the Bahamas. The BSPA 

supports the philosophy of community policing, 

the calls for a true and cooperative partnership 

between the community and the police for 

safer communities. 


tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with REMARKS