Honoring Diane Devalt as She is Recognized With the USO's 2004 Spirit of Hope Award

HONOR ING DIANE DEVALT AS SHE IS RECOGNIZED WITH THE USO'S 2004 SPIRIT OF HOPE AWARD -- (Extensions of Remarks - September 29, 2004)

Ms. DELAURO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize one of my constituents, Diane Devalt of Stratford, CT. On Wednesday, September 17, Diane was awarded the USO's annual Spirit of Hope Award, which is named for the late actor-comedian Bob Hope. The Spirit of Hope Award was created by President Clinton in 1997, and its first recipient was Bob Hope, in whose name the award is given. With so many of our troops serving in harm's way, I believe that this award has special significance this year.

Diane earned this award for her service as key volunteer coordinator of the 1st Truck Platoon, Naval-Marine Corps Reserve Center in New Haven. It is a job she took in 2001 and took on new significance when her son, Corporal Daniel Gorton was deployed to Iraq for six months last year. Mr. Speaker, Diane is a full-time fifth-grade school teacher in Stratford. She took this task on in July 2001 with no formal training and immediately turned the program completely around. According to her citation, Diane took over a family readiness program that was virtually non-existent and made "significant contributions during a full-scale Mobilization, Activation and Deployment."

Among Diane's most important responsibilities as the unit's key volunteer coordinator was to train volunteers to serve as an emotional support system for the families of Marine reservists deployed overseas. She conducted pre-deployment briefs for Marines and their families, and organized Family Day events for families with loved ones serving in Iraq.

Over the past year, I have met with many families whose loved ones serve in the National Guard or Reserve Corps and are deployed in the war on terror or in Iraq. I can tell you that a strong network of emotional support for the families back home, makes it much easier for our troops abroad to do their work successfully.

Mr. Speaker, Diane is an extraordinary woman who has joined some extraordinary company. By earning this award, Diane joins the ranks of Walter Cronkite, former astronaut and U.S. Senator John Glenn, actress Ann Margret and former President George H.W. Bush. I congratulate her for receiving this award, and I thank her for outstanding work in support of our men and women in uniform.