E2242 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks October 3, 2008 

the Air Force, ‘‘Integrity First, Service Before 

Self, Excellence in All We Do.’’ 

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CONGRATULATING HURST-EULESSBEFORD ISD 

HON. MICHAEL C. BURGESS OF TEXAS

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Friday, October 3, 2008 

Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, I rise 

today to congratulate the students, faculty, 

and staff from Hurst-Euless-Bedford Independent School District on receiving the prestigious honor of being named the Top District 

in the State of Texas by Education Resource 

Group. 

Education Resource Group looks at the 200 

largest districts in the state, which enroll the 

majority of students who attend Texas Public 

schools. Giving careful consideration to academic, demographic, staffing, and financial information, they determine the award recipient. 

The award measures the relationship between 

operating expenditures and student achievement. 

This year marks the 50th anniversary of 

Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD. The district strives 

to provide an exceptional education to its students, and has received national recognition 

for its outstanding academic, athletic, and fine 

arts programs. The district maintains a high 

quality faculty and staff who host a learning 

environment that promotes character, achievement, and personal responsibility. 

Madam Speaker, I am proud to represent 

many of the students, faculty, and staff of 

Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD in the 26th District 

of Texas. Their outstanding educational standards set a great example for all academic institutions. I wish them all the best in their future endeavors. 

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HONORING JAVIER LOPEZ, M.D. 

HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH OF OHIO

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Friday, October 3, 2008 

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, I rise 

today in honor and recognition of my dearest 

friend and mentor, Javier Lopez, M.D., whose 

advocacy, love and devotion on behalf of his 

second family—all of us privileged to be in his 

care—has made our lives stronger by not only 

his medical brilliance, but even more significantly, by his kindness, wisdom, compassion, 

and selfless service in healing our broken bodies and broken hearts. 

As a life long advocate on behalf of the 

poor, the isolated and the elderly, Dr. Lopez 

lives the principles of his Roman Catholic faith 

by serving as an instrument of peace and 

hope every day, as he has done for nearly 50 

years along Broadway Avenue. His vocation of 

healing will continue, as his practice evolves 

from his daily routine on Broadway Avenue to 

continuing his missions of medical miracles, 

ministering to the poor of Colombia, Honduras 

and to places in the world where medical resources are few yet the need is great. 

As a young man, Dr. Lopez journeyed to 

Cleveland from his homeland of Medellin, Colombia, to complete his residency at St. Alexis 

Hospital—saying farewell to his family, friends 

and to the rich culture of Colombia. The people of North and South Broadway were immediately taken by Dr. Lopez’ integrity, kindness, 

compassion and humble nature, and he was 

also moved by the kindness and gratitude 

shown to him. Dr. Lopez could have set up his 

practice in any suburb, but he chose to remain 

on the tough streets of Cleveland, where he 

was needed the most. 

For the past 50 years, Dr. Lopez’ practice 

was entrenched with a rare and genuine love, 

concern, compassion and respect for every 

patient—young, old, of every race and of 

every economic background. 

His most impactful work has been, and continues to be his service to the poor. In our 

country, where the uninsured are routinely denied health care, they found solace at the office of Dr. Lopez. He never turned anyone 

away for lack of insurance, nor inability to pay. 

Dr. Lopez continues to be a champion of 

health care justice and reform. He is an outspoken activist in support of universal health 

care; he has fought diligently on behalf of his 

patients when crooked health insurers refused 

to pay, and he worked tirelessly to stop the 

closing of St. Michael Hospital. After St. Michael’s ultimately fell to a system wrought with 

corruption and greed, Dr. Lopez could have 

moved his practice away from North Broadway—but it was never even considered—he 

stayed where he was needed the most. 

Dr. Lopez’ dedication to his patients is 

eclipsed only by his devotion to his family. His 

wife of more than 50 years, Nancy Lopez, has 

been and continues to be his strongest source 

of support, love and friendship. 

His sons David and Daniel, David’s wife 

Priscilla, his granddaughter Ana and his 

daughter-in-law to be, Carmen Nogales—continue to be the center and light of his world. 

Dr. Lopez’s office manager, Toni Maruszak, 

has been an invaluable and consistent source 

of support to Dr. Lopez for more than a decade. Her amazing memory, excellent organizational skills and ability to juggle a million things 

at once always ensured that the office ran 

smoothly. 

More importantly, Toni’s remarkable interpersonal skills and great sense of humor provided comfort and reassurance for countless 

patients during difficult moments. 

Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join 

me in honor and gratitude of Dr. Javier Lopez. 

Despite his great achievements in medicine, 

he remains humble, grateful and virtually egoless. He offers the same kindness and attention to the homeless alcoholic as he does to 

the successful CEO. He is the heart and soul 

of Broadway Avenue—there is no one like him 

and he is irreplaceable. 

His presence here has been a gift of healing 

and hope for countless people, including myself and my family—and will continue to be. 

Dr. Lopez walks shoulder to shoulder in the 

ranks of healers like Gandhi and Mother Teresa—guided by faith and a genuine belief in 

the words—‘‘Whatsoever you do to the least 

of my brothers, that you do unto me.’’ 

Vaya con Dios, mi amigo—de hoy, manana, 

y siempre. 

Go with God, my friend—today, tomorrow 

and forever. 

PERSONAL EXPLANATION 

HON. ED PERLMUTTER OF COLORADO

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Friday, October 3, 2008 

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Madam Speaker, I rise 

today to enter into the record a ‘‘yes’’ vote for 

rollcall vote 671. I was present in the chamber 

on September 29,2008, and thought my vote 

had been cast on the rule but was not counted. 

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TRIBUTE TO SGT. RICHARD E. 

REYES 

HON. JIM COSTA OF CALIFORNIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Friday, October 3, 2008 

Mr. COSTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to 

honor a true patriot serving in our military, 

Sergeant Richard E. Reyes. Sgt. Reyes 

serves proudly in the United States Marine 

Corps, and hails from Sanger, California. He 

has recently been named the USO Service 

Marine of the Year, and I want to send my sincere congratulations. 

Sgt. Reyes served as team leader with 

Company C, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 

Regimental Combat Team 6, which is stationed in Iraq. While serving in the Persian 

Gulf, Sgt. Reyes led his team on 70 combat 

missions and was instrumental in the capture 

of over 35 insurgents. During combat operations in July 2007, his platoon’s base came 

under enemy attack with small arms and machinegun fire. Located just 250 meters from 

the ambush, Sgt. Reyes maneuvered onto a 

nearby rooftop, identified the insurgents, and 

relayed the enemy’s location to the platoon 

commander. 

He was still undetected by the enemy, and 

he and his team engaged the insurgent group 

with high explosive rounds, which reduced 

enemy fire on the base, but exposed his position on the rooftop. Sgt. Reyes was determined to end this engagement, which had 

been going on for 45 minutes. He then moved 

his team onto another rooftop and singlehandedly directed attacks by U.S. jets and helicopters. After several attempts, the enemy’s 

position was destroyed. 

Just 3 days later, Sgt. Reyes again demonstrated superb leadership and courage 

when he engaged an insurgent from the rooftop of his platoon’s base and directed a 

counter-attack. During the firefight, Sgt. Reyes 

and his team maintained their position and coordinated a diversion using artillery smoke. As 

a result of his initiative, perseverance, and 

dedication to duty, an additional two insurgents were captured in this engagement. 

Sgt. Reyes is a Sanger High School graduate, and while he was there, he was a three 

sport athlete. He played for his school’s water 

polo team in the fall, he wrestled in the winter, 

and swam in the spring. Following graduation, 

he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps 

at age 17. Sgt. Reyes is the son of Rosa and 

Gustavo Reyes, and he has two brothers and 

two sisters. 

On behalf of all my colleagues in the House 

and Senate, I would like to congratulate Sgt. 

Richard Reyes for being named the USO 


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