Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise before you today to recognize John Nelson Cowen of Jefferson County, Illinois. John was recently inducted into the Senior Saints Hall of Fame of Jefferson County.

John received this honor for his lifelong service to others. Throughout his life John raised a family, sang for community events with the Barbershop Chorus, annually served at the Kiwanis Pancake and Sausage Breakfast, provided inexpensive housing to low income families, and contributed to the education of underprivileged children. He is still actively involved as a Sunday School teacher at Park Avenue Baptist Church where he has taught for 70 years. John also loves his country so much he chose to not draw Social Security so that others in need can benefit from it.

I want to congratulate and thank John for all he has done and will continue to do for the people in his community. He is a saint to all who know him and is deserving of this prestigious honor.

Mr. Speaker, I rise before you today to recognize Alfred ``Mugsy'' Bean of Jefferson County, Illinois. Mugsy was recently inducted into the Senior Saints Hall of Fame of Jefferson County.

Mugsy received this honor for his lifelong service to others. On the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Mugsy immediately volunteered for service to his country. He was embroiled in World War II for close to 4 years. For the past 25 years Mugsy has served as a member of American Legion Post 141 Funeral Detail and has worked on the Jefferson County Veteran's Memorial Committee. He is known to treat all with the same respect and to reach out to those in need. Mugsy has been married to Louise for 58 years and has raised four children.

I want to congratulate and thank Mugsy for all he has done and will continue to do for the people in his community. He is a saint to all who know him and is deserving of this prestigious honor.

Mr. Speaker, I rise before you today to recognize Chester Connaway of Jefferson County, Illinois. Chet was recently inducted into the Senior Saints Hall of Fame of Jefferson County.

Chet received this honor for his lifelong service to others. Upon his graduation from Mt. Vernon Township High School he joined the Army. He then served 40 years in the Illinois Army National Guard. He now is the district director for Veterans Affairs Southern Division where he works to secure benefits for deserving veterans. Chet also is a member of the Field Grade School Board of Education and he served twenty years as treasurer of Wesley United Methodist Church. Chet and his wife Barbara have been married 50 years and have raised three daughters.

I want to congratulate and thank Chet for all he has done and will continue to do for the people in his community. He is a saint to all who know him and is deserving of this prestigious honor.

Mr. Speaker, I rise before you today to recognize Nancy Germann of Jefferson County, Illinois. Nancy was recently inducted into the Senior Saints Hall of Fame of Jefferson County.

Nancy received this honor for her lifelong service to others. For 33 years she made a positive difference in the lives of students. She loves teaching so much she returned to the classroom after her retirement as a special education aide. Nancy is extremely involved in her church and community. Some of her activities include singing in the church choir, assisting with the soup kitchen and Thanksgiving dinner for the needy, and serving as a director for Cedarhurst Chamber Music along with helping with other Cedarhurst activities.

I want to congratulate and thank Nancy for all she has done and will continue to do for the people in her community. She is a saint to all who know her and is deserving of this prestigious honor.

Mr. Speaker, I rise before you today to recognize Wilma Kimmel of Jefferson County, Illinois. Wilma was recently inducted into the Senior Saints Hall of Fame of Jefferson County.

Wilma received this honor for her lifelong service to others. She is known as a dedicated wife and mother. She and her husband, Ardell, raised three children. In order to help send her children to college she began work as a secretary for the Mt. Vernon School System where she worked for twenty years. Wilma has been involved with the 4-H Club, Rend Lake Piecemakers Quilt Guild, and Herbs for Health and Fun. No one can say that Wilma is not devoted to her church. At Central Christian Church she is known as a ready and willing hand for wherever there is a need. She is described as one who gets the job done and one who never complains.

I want to congratulate and thank Wilma for all she has done and will continue to do for the people in her community. She is a saint to all who know her and is deserving of this prestigious honor.

Mr. Speaker, I rise before you today to recognize Jack Goldman of Jefferson County, Illinois. Jack was recently inducted into the Senior Saints Hall of Fame of Jefferson County.

Jack received this honor for his lifelong service to others. He served in World War II as a combat engineer in the United States Army. Jack participated in the invasions of Leyte and Okinawa. After serving his country he returned to Mt. Vernon where he has literally and figuratively changed his community. Jack became involved with the Acquisition Committee for the Arts in the City Foundation and as chairman of the Sculpture Committee for Cedarhurst. He was named Counselor Emeritus for Mitchell Museum in 1995. Jack is an architect with Fields, Goldman, and Magee; and is also a member of the Mt. Vernon Rotary Club and the Downtown Development Corporation. He and his wife, Joan, are members of United Methodist Church.

I want to congratulate and thank Jack for all he has done and will continue to do for the people in his community. He is a saint to all who know him and is deserving of this prestigious honor.

Mr. Speaker, I rise before you today to recognize Dorothy Baker of Jefferson County, Illinois. Dottie was recently inducted into the Senior Saints Hall of Fame of Jefferson County.

Dottie received this honor for her lifelong service to others. She is a wife and mother who raised three children. Today she is a regular participant in the Sweet Corn & Watermelon Festival, the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life, Jefferson County's Crime Watch program, Memorial Day services, the Mt. Vernon City Wide Cleanup, and the National Day of Prayer. She has also assisted with the Emergency 911 Telephone Testing process. Dottie is active in her church where she helps the elderly and assists others in any way possible.

I want to congratulate and thank Dottie for all she has done and will continue to do for the people in her community. She is a saint to all who know her and is deserving of this prestigious honor.

Mr. Speaker, I rise before you today to recognize Cliff Fields of Jefferson County, Illinois. Cliff was recently inducted into the Senior Saints Hall of Fame of Jefferson County.

Cliff received this honor for his lifelong service to others. Whether it was his service in World War II or his work to bring business and industry to Mt. Vernon, he is known as an unselfish person who works tirelessly for the benefit of others. Fifty years ago Cliff founded the architectural firm of Fields, Goldman, and Magee. He has also served on the Summersville Grade School Board, Mt. Vernon Airport Authority, Economic Development Commission, Director for Mt. Vernon Savings & Loan and First Bank & Trust, and a Trustee for Mitchell Museum.

I want to congratulate and thank Cliff for all he has done and will continue to do for the people in his community. He is a saint to all who know him and is deserving of this prestigious honor.

Mr. Speaker, I rise before you today to recognize Clara Sonsini of Jefferson County, Illinois. Clara was recently inducted into the Senior Saints Hall of Fame of Jefferson County.

Clara received this honor for her lifelong service to others. At the onset of World War II she left home and traveled to San Francisco to work for the government in homeland security. Later, Clara and her husband, Dan, moved to Mt. Vernon where they raised three children. Upon their high school graduation she began work at a local nursing home as a nurse's aid and eventually as activity director. Clara's other numerous community activities include Girl Scout Leader, Cub Scout Den Mother, YMCA volunteer, grade school homeroom leader, president of the PTA, and American Cancer Society and Red Cross volunteer. She remains vigorously involved with the St. Mary's/Good Samaritan Regional Health Center Auxiliary.

I want to congratulate and thank Clara for all she has done and will continue to do for the people in her community. She is a saint to all who know her and is deserving of this prestigious honor.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay special tribute to the City of Centralia, Illinois as she celebrates her sesquicentennial. Since 1853, the people of Centralia have lived and prospered and given so much to this great nation.

Centralia was founded as a result of the building of the Illinois Central Railroad, hence the name Centralia. It was also a coal-mining town almost from the first years of its existence. The town has experienced an oil boom in the mid 1900s and is home to much industry.

Over the years Centralia has produced many leaders who have been instrumental in our Nation's history. One reason is due to the quality education provided. It is also the home of the ``Winningest Basketball Team in America,'' the Centralia Carillon, and the Centralia Balloon Fest; just to name a few.

I am proud to represent the people of the great City of Centralia and to share in this special occasion. I thank them for all they give to our country and I wish them another successful 150 years. Congratulations and ``Go Orphans!''

Mr. Speaker, I rise before you today to recognize SSM Health Care for receiving the Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Award. SSM Health Care sponsors St. Mary's/Good Samaritan Hospitals in Centralia and Mt. Vernon, both located in the 19th Congressional District of Illinois.

I am very proud of their accomplishment. SSM Health Care is the first health care organization to win the award. The award is given annually by the United States Department of Commerce and is the highest award a U.S. company can receive for management and quality achievement.

The leadership, medical staff, and all employees continually strive to meet the needs of their patients first. Their level of service is outstanding and very responsive. I thank them for their commitment to quality health care, but above all to the citizens of this great nation. Keep up the excellent work.

Mr. Speaker, I rise before you today to recognize Mt. Vernon Elks Lodge 819. This year marks their 100th year of service to the people of Jefferson County. I am very proud of their milestone and that they are part of the 19th Congressional District, which I serve.

The Elks is a national fraternity involved in a variety of charitable work involving children and veterans. Members also uphold their long- standing tradition of patriotism and spirituality. Locally, they regularly disperse funds to help charitable causes and to provide scholarships. Several of their activities include assisting crippled children, volunteering at veteran's hospitals, organizing blood drives, providing learning opportunities for local students, and supporting the Jefferson County Sports Authority. The Mt. Vernon Elks have also been nationally recognized as the finest lodge in America.

I thank them for all the work they do and will continue to do in the future. Their commitment to their country and to their fellow citizens is very commendable. The selfless services they provide on a daily basis are an example for us all to follow. There is no question that their community, their state, and their country are better because of them. I wish the lodge the very best as they enter into their next 100 years of service.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the late Mr. Raymond Flowers of Centralia, IL. Upon his death at the age of 100, Raymond held the status of oldest retired firefighter in the state of Illinois.

Towards the end of World War II, the Centralia Fire Department faced a significant shortage of firefighters. Many of Centralia's men had enlisted in the military and were serving our country in Europe and the Pacific. To help alleviate this shortage, Raymond decided to leave his job as a truck driver and in 1944 became one of many who filled in for the firefighters who were deployed overseas. He stayed with the Fire Department for another 20 years, until his retirement in 1964.

Raymond received little formal training or instruction in firefighting. Instead, he learned on the job, fighting fires with the members of the east side fire station in Centralia.

The Centralia Fire Department and many of the citizens of Centralia honored Raymond at his funeral.

Raymond's career as a firefighter is just one example of the thousands of contributions to our nation made by members of the ``Greatest Generation.'' It is my prayer that all Americans would learn to make the same selfless sacrifices made by those citizens.

Mr. Speaker, I rise before you today to recognize Edith James and Sarah Lockhart of Mt. Vernon, Illinois. Edith and Sarah recently led the Jefferson County African-American Heritage Committee's Research Committee in publishing the booklet, We The People--Past Present and Future, a look at local African-American history.

I thank and commend them for their tireless work in preserving and documenting history. Their work will lead to a better understanding of those who have come before us. It will also help to better educate us on one of the most divisive and shameful periods of American history; slavery and racial discrimination.

Edith and Sarah have spent much of their lives giving back to Jefferson County. I am honored to take this occasion to recognize them for their devotion and commitment to their community. We are grateful.

Mr. Speaker, I rise before you today to recognize Major General David Harris, The Adjutant General of the Illinois National Guard. Major General Harris will be retiring from his position after more than thirty-three years of military service.

Maj. General Harris was appointed Adjutant General in 1999. During his service as leader of the Illinois National Guard, he oversaw its largest mobilization since World War II. The military operations in Iraq saw more than 2,600 soldiers and airmen mobilized or alerted

for duty. Mobilizations also took place in large numbers for Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan as well.

New military construction projects were also a major part of Harris' tenure. Working with the Illinois congressional delegation along with state leaders, funding was secured for new armories and for the upgrade of existing armories throughout the state.

Major General Harris began his military career in 1970. In 1971 he successfully completed Infantry Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia. He joined the Illinois Army National Guard in 1979 where he has held numerous positions. During the 1980's he served as a member of the Illinois House of Representatives representing his home in the northwest Chicago suburb of Arlington Heights.

I want to thank Major General Harris for his many years of service to his country and state. He is a man of great ability, but more importantly a man of integrity who has devoted his life to protecting the citizens of his country and state. I wish him the best as he enters retirement. He will be missed.