[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 63 (Monday, April 17, 2023)]
[House]
[Page H1741]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1915
     COMMENDING DEL SPAFFORD ON RECEIVING JAMES M. ROCHE SPIRIT OF 
                           VOLUNTEERISM AWARD

  (Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend 
Del Spafford of DuBois, Pennsylvania, for receiving the 2023 James M. 
Roche Spirit of Volunteerism award.
  The Roche award is the highest volunteer award given by the 
Department of Defense's office of Employer Support of the Guard and 
Reserve. The award calls attention to significant achievements made by 
volunteers in contributing to and accomplishing the ESGR mission of 
promoting cooperation between civilian employers and servicemembers of 
the National Guard and Reserve.
  Since retiring as Battalion Commander from the famous 28th Division 
of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard, Spafford has demonstrated the 
spirit of patriotism and service.
  For more than 34 years, Spafford has served the ESGR in many 
capacities and has the distinguished honor of being the longest 
continuing serving committee member in Pennsylvania.
  Most notably, he has accumulated an astonishing 1,285 volunteer hours 
with the ESGR in the past 8 years alone while serving in a variety of 
overlapping roles.
  I commend Del Spafford for earning the James M. Roche Spirit of 
Volunteerism Award for his commitment to our citizen soldiers and for 
his dedication to supporting military-civilian relations in north-
central Pennsylvania.

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