[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 131 (Monday, September 19, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: September 19, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
RECOGNIZING MARTIN ANTHONY FRANCIS FOR HIS MANY YEARS OF DEDICATION TO 
               THE FLAG AND HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES

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                        HON. FORTNEY PETE STARK

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 19, 1994

  Mr. STARK. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a moment to honor and 
recognize my constituent, Martin A. Francis of San Leandro, CA, for his 
untiring devotion to understanding how our government works and for 
teaching himself and others about our Nation and its history. Mr. 
Francis is someone who exemplifies the importance of an informed 
citizenry in any democracy because he devotes a great deal of his own 
spare time to spreading knowledge and awareness to others about our 
flag, Constitution, Bill of Rights, and Declaration of Independence.
  Martin Francis was born on November 11, 1926 in Boston, MA, and lived 
there until he moved to California in 1946. His love for his country, 
its history, and flags began at an early age, when he became intrigued 
with the Constitution display at Faneuil Hall in Boston, which he 
visited often while he was growing up. In 1968, Mr. Francis began to 
collect information about flags and U.S. history. Working out of a 
special addition to his home he built for this purpose, he has since 
created an extensive compilation of displays to be shared with his 
fellow citizens at various schools, organizations, libraries, churches, 
and community events in San Leandro area.
  In 1974, Mr. Francis became formally involved in educating the youth 
of San Leandro about our Nation's history when his son, Tommy, brought 
home a flag poster related to a school project. Mr. Francis went to 
Tommy's classroom to show the students memorabilia related to our flag. 
From that day forward, he has regularly visited many area classrooms 
and has helped thousands of students learn about their flag and their 
country through his displays commemorating various episodes in our 
Nation's history.
  On Flag Day in 1974, Martin Francis sponsored a ceremony to honor our 
flag at the San Leandro library that has since become an annual event. 
This past June 14 marked the 18th anniversary of the San Leandro Flag 
Day ceremony, with Martin A. Francis as program chair once again. He is 
also the distinguished president of the Alameda County Chapter of the 
Valley Forge Freedom Foundation, and recently had a flag custom made to 
commemorate the foundation's 45th anniversary.
  In honor of our Nation's Bicentennial in 1976, Mr. Francis assisted 
the Alameda County Bicentennial Committee by providing many flags and 
historical memorabilia to be put on display for the enjoyment and 
education of the entire community.
  At present, Martin is the sponsor of a Constitution and Bill of 
Rights commemorative exhibit display in Bancroft Middle School in San 
Leandro to honor the 207th anniversary of the signing of the 
Constitution on September 17, 1994. For the month of October, this 
exhibit will be displayed at Bay Elementary School in San Lorenzo.
  Mr. Speaker, Martin Francis is a patriot and community resource who 
has made his home a living museum of American history and flag history 
and lore. I am proud to share with my colleagues some of his noteworthy 
achievements and his dedication to preserving and sharing our history.

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