Celebrating Veterans Day and Veterans

Floor Speech

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Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, next week Americans throughout the country will celebrate Veterans Day. In cities and towns and hamlets, which all of us come from, we will take the time to thank and to honor those men and women who have served our Nation so nobly, to protect our freedoms and to keep this country safe, safe from all harm, foreign and domestic.

Americans take a great deal of pride in their service to our country, and we must also remember those men and women who are today serving in Active Duty in harm's way throughout the world.

I want to take this opportunity to honor two veterans who passed away this last September, who I worked with closely and who were community leaders, Charlie Waters and Earl Watson, both gentlemen who exemplified what is the best and the brightest our Nation has to offer.

Earl Watson, or as many like to call him, ``Earl, the Pearl,'' was a World War II veteran. After the war, he moved to Los Angeles, where he worked as a doorman in the famous Hotel Knickerbocker. During a difficult time in our Nation's history, during World War II, when segregation was still in many places the law of the land, Earl was most proud that he could serve his Nation. He wrote a biography titled ``Earl `The Pearl' Watson: Doorman to the Stars.'' But what he was most proud of was his service to our Nation.

Earl loved people. He had a big smile, a friendly demeanor, and an eagerness to help those in need. Anytime a veteran ever came to him or a veterans organization had a problem, he was there to be helpful. Earl told me, when we were able to retrieve his medals that he had earned during his service to our country, that the proudest moment of all the many things he had done in his life was his service to our country.

Earl is survived by his wife of 71 years, Melba; his children, Alan and Coleen; and grandchildren, Eric, Ashley, and Jonathan, who he was so, so very proud of.

Another veterans' advocate who we all miss in the San Joaquin Valley is Charlie Waters, who served in the United States Marine Corps during the Korean war. Charlie, as he was affectionately known by all, never ever stopped fighting on behalf of veterans. I worked closely with him for many years, from working to get recognition for Hmong veterans to advocating for the funding of the opening of the veterans home that we successfully did that provides residence to those who deserve it. As a matter of fact, in Charlie's last days, he was able to stay there.

He was a true champion of veterans not only throughout the Valley, but the Nation. But he did not stop there: supporting the Veterans Administration Hospital in Fresno and providing support for their efforts; organizing and helping continue the Veterans Day parade, which is one of the largest veterans parades in the entire nation that is shown on Armed Services Television; and individuals. No problem was too big or too small, as long as a veteran was there who needed Charlie's help.

Therefore, we miss both Charlie and Earl very much for all that they have done and all that they exemplified in terms of honor, duty, and service to country. Charlie is survived by his wife, Cathy; and children, Charlie Waters, III, Karen, and Jennifer.

Mr. Speaker, we want to take this time to recognize those leaders, those leaders who made a difference during their lives in serving our country. They are both shining examples of those who always--always--cared first and foremost for our Nation.

As we celebrate Veterans Day next week around the country, in towns and hamlets and cities throughout the Nation, we should think about all these veterans. We should think about the men and women who have served our Nation today in Active Duty. Never ever forget to say thank you for their service to a grateful Nation.

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