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HONORING COACH DOUG SMITH
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Good) for 5 minutes.
Mr. GOOD of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the leadership and perseverance of Appomattox County High School coach, Doug Smith.
Doug Smith has led the Appomattox Raiders football team since 2012. Under his leadership, the team has boasted a 32-game winning streak, and won State championship titles in 2015, 2016, and 2017. While Coach Smith's record is amazing, his leadership extends well beyond the field.
Coach Smith has truly united the community behind their team, as evidenced by the large groups on Friday nights. One cannot visit Appomattox County without seeing the impact Coach Smith has made on his students, his coworkers, and the community at large.
Modeling by example, he has taught his student athletes to be productive citizens, such as when the team famously came out in full force to help those affected by the devastating tornado that hit Appomattox in 2016.
However, Coach Smith is best known for his relationship with Jesus Christ, his eternal perspective, and his focus on those things that matter more than football. This has been most clearly displayed since the fall of 2020, as Coach Smith has faced a great personal challenge of his own with a diagnosis of multiple myeloma, a cancer of the plasma cells.
He has been a tremendous testimony through this journey. Thankfully, it appears that the Lord has him on the road to recovery. My continued prayers are with Coach Smith as he continues to fight this terrible disease.
I thank Coach Smith for his commitment to service and leadership. Coach Smith is an inspiration to us all about the importance of serving others, even through personal challenges.
Commemorating Sailors and Marines aboard USS ``Forrestal'' on July 29,
1967
Mr. GOOD of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I rise to remember and express gratitude to the brave sailors and marines who were wounded or lost their lives fighting the catastrophic fire aboard the ship, the USS Forrestal.
July 29, 2021, marked the 54th anniversary of one of the most tragic fires in U.S. naval history. On July 29, 1967, the USS Forrestal, which was supporting combat operations off the coast of Vietnam, was impacted by an accidental rocket that ignited a fire and triggered several bomb explosions on the flight deck.
Sailors and marines on board, including several Virginians, bravely fought the fire for 18 hours. Despite the courageous efforts of the crew, 134 men died, 161 were wounded, and 21 aircraft were destroyed. Sadly, veterans wounded that day are still fighting their claims with the VA, such as my constituent, Mr. David Cephas Smith, of Vinton, Virginia. These heroes were not awarded the Purple Heart because their wounds did not occur during enemy combat, but their bravery still merits recognition.
We are forever grateful for the service of veterans, like Mr. Smith, who were wounded or sacrificed their lives battling this fire aboard the USS Forrestal.
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SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 185
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