Chris Pappas

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the retirement of Representative Marjorie Smith, who has represented Durham, Lee, and Madbury in the New Hampshire House of Representatives for 14 terms. Marjorie's distinguished career in public service encourages us all to be strong advocates for our local communities and for the bedrock values we cherish as Americans.

After graduating from Syracuse University with a master's degree in public administration, Marjorie worked in the Kennedy and Johnson administrations, serving her country as a member of the President's Appalachian Regional Commission and the newly-formed Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. As a State Representative, she was an essential voice for economic and social justice, leading efforts to raise wages, expand opportunity, defend reproductive freedom, and realize marriage equality. Marjorie was also the first appointed chair of the Durham Public Library, chair of the board of the New Hampshire Women's Policy Institute, and Treasurer of the Durham Historic Association, inspiring countless Granite Staters with her generous and passionate advocacy.

After more than three decades of public service and a tireless pursuit of the greater good, Marjorie has become one of New Hampshire's most respected leaders. Whether through her work at the federal, state, or local level, Marjorie's leadership and resolve have made an immeasurable difference in people's lives. I am forever grateful for her compassion and commitment to improving her community.

On behalf of the constituents of New Hampshire's 1st Congressional District, I commend my friend Representative Smith for her service. My well wishes are with Marjorie, her children, and her grandchildren as she begins her next chapter.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Marcia ``Marty'' Sink, who has spent the last 38 years as a dedicated child advocate, during which time she has left a profound and lasting impact on children in the foster and court systems in New Hampshire.

Marty began her journey in child advocacy in her thirties when she and her husband, Russ, became foster parents. After witnessing the realities of the court system for minors in foster care and similar situations, Marty reached out to CASA, Court Appointed Special Advocates for children. She learned there was no chapter of the program in New Hampshire and took on the challenge of founding the New Hampshire chapter of CASA in 1988. For 38 years, she has remained a dedicated advocate of children suffering from abuse and neglect across the state of New Hampshire.

CASA in New Hampshire started with just ten volunteers but has since grown into an organization of over 3,000 individuals. These advocates have supported over 13,000 children since the founding of the NH chapter. In addition to serving as the President of CASA, Marty has sat on numerous committees, including the New Hampshire Citizens' Commission on State Courts, the New Hampshire Commission on Adoption, and the New Hampshire Attorney General's Task Force on Child Abuse and Neglect. Throughout her nearly 40 years of service, she has received awards, including the National CASA Association Kappa

Alpha Theta Program Director of the Year in 1997, the New Hampshire Bar Association's Frank Rowe Kenison Award in 2001, the University of New Hampshire's Granite State Award in 2004, and the Keene State College's Outstanding Women of New Hampshire Award in 2014.

Those who know Marty best admire her leadership skills, patience, and diplomacy. Colleagues from the courtroom describe her as a force of nature who is gentle but persistent in securing advocacy for children. Her work with CASA has created lasting change in New Hampshire's courts.

Marty will retire in July, leaving New Hampshire's CASA program in the hands of her trusted and experienced colleagues. Now 70, she looks forward to spending time with her husband and family. In honor of her retirement, CASA is creating the Marty Sink Legacy Fund for Advocates, a fund dedicated to supporting and investing in this year's 600 advocates.

On behalf of my constituents in New Hampshire's First Congressional District, I thank Marty Sink for her commitment and dedication to supporting the children of New Hampshire for the past 38 years. I would also like to thank Marty for her selfless service and for her leadership in the state. I wish her and her family all the best in her retirement and future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker. I rise today in recognition of Mr. Lloyd Freese, who celebrated his 100th birthday on May 9th. Lloyd is a lifelong resident of New Hampshire and a proud veteran of the United States Army who served our country honorably in the European Theatre during World War II.

Lloyd grew up in Manchester, New Hampshire, the son of Albert C. Freese and Gladys Freese, and graduated from Manchester Central High School in 1943, a varsity letterman in both Track and Hockey. As someone who grew up in the Great Depression, he learned early in his life the value of hard work and resilience. He carried that with him as a student, studying the Practical Arts so he could practice an essential trade.

He was only 17 years old when he joined the Army in 1943, and he served in the U.S. Infantry, Fifth Army Division during the Liberation of Italy from 1944 to 1945. After returning stateside at the end of that year, he narrowly avoided deployment to the Pacific, the war coming to end just before he was set to leave. That bit of good fortune earned him the nickname ``Lucky Lloyd'' and from there he built his life, family, and career over the ensuing decades.

He graduated from Hesser College in 1949 and launched a career of distinguished work and leadership, working first for Universal C.I.T. Credit Corporation, then as Vice President of Bankers Service Inc., Assistant Vice President of Indian Head Bank Inc., Vice President of Indian Head Properties, and eventually Senior Vice President of Indian Head National Bank of Nashua, New Hampshire. He also served on the Board of Directors of several organizations, including the First Federal Reserve District for Consumer Credit, New England Bank Card Associates, the New Hamphshire Motor Vehicle Industry Board, and the Hundred Club of New Hampshire, for whom he also served four years as President.

Even with all his career accomplishments, those who know Lloyd best understand that his family and friends have always been most important to him. He married his wife, Alice in 1947, and together they raised two children, Gary Freese and Karen Freese Wilson. He has also been a consistently active member of his community, an avid golfer for much of his life and a dedicated skier until he was 89 years old. He is also one of the longest active members of the Manchester Country Club, where he has been a member for over 62 years.

On behalf of my constituents in New Hampshire's 1st Congressional District, it is my honor to recognize Lloyd on his 100th birthday. Today. we join his loved ones in celebrating this exciting milestone and his life of service, leadership, family, and community. His life of service is an inspiring model for all of us to follow. I wish him a very happy birthday and all the best in the years to come.