[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 61 (Monday, April 3, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E756]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                        A TRIBUTE TO CARMEN PINA

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                        HON. PATRICK J. KENNEDY

                            of rhode island

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 3, 1995
  Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a 
young woman who represents the finest qualities of human nature. Carmen 
Pina, a student from the city of Pawtucket, has shown her entire 
community what it means to have grace under pressure. Carmen recently 
lost her father to Lou Gehrig's disease, a crippling illness that was 
emotionally draining on Carmen's entire family. Rather than succumb to 
perpetual sadness Carmen focused her energies on improving the quality 
of her own life.
  Recently Carmen has been honored with several awards that have become 
a testament to her hard work and dedication to life. Not only has she 
helped her family, natives of Portugal, get back on the path to 
emotional recover, but she has excelled in her own work, and has been 
named valedictorian of the senior class at Charles E. Shea High School 
in Pawtucket. Today, Carmen is 1 of 88 students from around the country 
to win this years Horatio Alger scholarship. This coveted award is 
reserved only for those who have overcome the obstacles of life and 
made a commitment to helping others in their times of need. I think I 
speak for all the citizens of Rhode Island when I say that we are all 
enamored by Carmen's courage and extremely proud of her.
  Next year Carmen will attend college. As she embarks on this new and 
exciting journey I want to wish her only the best that life can offer. 
I know that these last years have been difficult, but in the days ahead 
I encourage her to continue to draw strength from these difficult 
times. The special relationship that she had with her father is a 
memory that can never be taken away, and a constant reminder that life 
must be cherished.
  I hope that we can all learn a valuable lesson from Carmen's example. 
She has shown us that when times are hard it is a strong spirit that 
survives. Fulfillment is defined not only by what makes us happy, but 
by how we create a better life for ourselves by gaining strength from 
the people that we love most. My thoughts go out to Carmen and her 
family and I hope that her father's love remains eternal in all their 
hearts.


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