[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 197 (Tuesday, December 12, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2343-E2344]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    LEWIS AND EULA ALLEN CELEBRATE THEIR GOLDEN WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______


                          HON. CARRIE P. MEEK

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 12, 1995

  Mrs. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to a 
wonderful couple in my district whose exemplary lives evoke the kind of 
family values and commitment this Nation can really be proud of. Lewis 
and Eula Allen, an extraordinary couple, celebrated their 50th wedding 
anniversary last November 29, 1995.
  There are two individuals who genuinely epitomize the down-to-earth 
human qualities that ordinary Americans, the unsung heroes and heroines 
of our Nation, have always engendered into their children since time 
immemorial. I would not feel right at all if I did not share with the 
Congress the hallmark of excellence and commitment that this couple 
left to consecrate their godly home in the service of our fellowmen. 
The Allens are residents of Dade Country since 1945. Into this union 
were born four God-fearing children, Louis Larry, Francina, and Linda, 
who is now deceased. Five grandchildren came to bring more joys into 
the Allen household, Jacob, Maya, Emory, LaDona, and Louis.
  A brief description of what this couple meant to the lives of their 
children is so compelling as to tug at the heartfelt simplicity and 
awesome beauty of what countless families all over America give to 
their children daily, nurturing them into becoming responsible, 
conscientious, and productive members of society. To the Allen 
children, Lewis and Eula, transformed their home into as oasis of love 
and support and encouragement. Incessantly they prayed to have God 
bless their parents to weather the storms and obstacles that mark up 
life's vicissitudes.
  With this basic belief the Allens consecrated themselves to rearing 
their children. As their daughter, Francina, put it succinctly, ``* * * 
mother represented the integrity of God.'' It was she who instilled 
Judaeo-Christian principles and demanded moral excellence at all times. 
``Mother was our role model,'' she continues, ``and exacted from us to 
do right, to be good and tell the truth--come what may.''
  Academic achievement in the pursuit of scholastic excellence was very 
important to the Allens. Mediocrity was unacceptable. The Allen 
children were taught to strive to be among the best. While Eula taught 
her children these life-long lessons. Lewis nurtured in his children's 
malleable minds social development and political awareness. It was 
Lewis who sacrificed to bring his children to PTA meetings, and 
chaperoned their school field trips, took them to football games, and 
all sorts of kiddie parties as well as taught them how to handle money 
by bringing them to Burger King on Fridays.
  When election time came Mr. Allen, who read the newspaper daily, 
would gather around the table his wife and children and discuss with 
them for whom they were going to vote. These family discussions 
enhanced the power of people's voting rights, especially when he 
impressed upon them that at no other time was equality exercised than 
during election time when the vote of the poor and the humble all over 
this Nation had the same worth as the vote of the rich and the 
powerful. As the children were old enough to exercise their right of 
suffrage, they looked forward to go to the polls and vote for their 
chosen candidates, knowing full well the issues and priorities on which 
they stand.
  As we enter into the spirit of this holiday season, the Allen 
children are mindful of the wonderful times they celebrate with their 
parents. They are deeply thankful of the gift of love God has showered 
them through the blessings of such noble parents. I know that there are 
countless more like the Allens across this Nation. But I am indeed 
honored on one hand, and humbled on the other, to have been equally 
blessed with having the Allens give me their trust and confidence in 
representing them in the hallowed halls of the Congress. Truly it is 
people like the Allens that dignify my role as a public servant.
  To Lewis and Eula Allen on their golden wedding anniversary, I say: 
``Warmest congratulations and best wishes. May God shower you with many 
more years to grace your wonderful union.
  I would like to share with my colleagues a recent article that 
appeared in the Miami Times celebrating Lewis and Eula Allen's 50th 
wedding anniversary.

                         [From the Miami Times]

                    The Allens Celebrate Golden Year

                         (By Traci Y. Pollock)

       They grew up together in a small Georgia town. They got 
     married in their late teens and shared the good, the bad and 
     the indifferent days.
       And, through it all, Eula and Lewis Allen, both 69, have 
     stayed together, comfortable in each other's company as they 
     grew older.
       This Wednesday they celebrated their 50th wedding 
     anniversary.
       ``At my age,'' joked Mrs. Allen, ``there's no sense of my 
     quitting. I know what I got. I don't know what's out there.''
       ``When you got a good wife, keep her,'' advises Mr. Allen.
       ``And she's a good cook and she keeps a good house,'' Mrs. 
     Allen interjects with a slight laugh.
       ``She's a good everything,'' Mr. Allen continues, ``If you 
     ask about her shortcomings, I haven't gotten to them yet. I 
     believe through that what the Lord put together let no one 
     separate us.''
       The Allens grew up together in Andersonville, Ga., 
     population about 900. At age 19, they married and, a year 
     later, left their closely knit community where everyone knew 
     each other by first name.
       Mrs. Allen wanted to move to Cleveland, Ohio, where her 
     elder brother lived, But, in 1946, the couple decided to move 
     to Miami, where her sister and two brothers resided.
       She said that every once in a while she gets a chance to go 
     up North.
       ``We used to work together, play together and went to 
     school together in Georgia,'' Mrs. Allen said. ``We really 
     got together 

[[Page E2344]]
     when he was traveling while in the service. We did more communicating 
     then. Then, when he got out, we courted for three years 
     before we got married.
       ``I had some rough days when I came to Dade County. But I 
     made up in my mind I was going to go through it. I was going 
     to stay hold of my vow, I was going through it, I wasn't 
     going around it or by pass it.
       ``I made it this far with God's help. I told Him what I 
     wanted to do and that I would need His help. And since I 
     chose to live my life for the Lord, God saved me. And that 
     should be for anyone who wants to do something; they have to 
     make up in their minds to do it.
       ``I had a lot of sad days, happy days and bad day. We've 
     fussed. We've fought But I just put them all together and 
     stuck hold to him. And he's been the only man in my life.
       ``I had desires. There were times I wanted to give it up 
     but I would think about my vows, `for richer or for poorer, 
     through sickness and in health, 'til death do us part.' And 
     he sure ain't rich. He's poor.''
       Mr. Allen said there was one occasion ``when we had come 
     near to separating.''
       ``That was when I had just left the Army and I wanted to 
     move somewhere it wasn't cold. She wanted to go North and I 
     wanted to stay South. I probably would have done better up 
     North, though, but I just don't like the cold weather.''
       Mrs. Allen describes her husband as an honest and 
     hardworking man, who did not have to rob or steal to provide 
     for the family.
       And he says he stayed with his wife because of her positive 
     qualities and her caring ways.
       Staying together, they have seen their children, Louis, 
     Larry, Francina Bolden and Linda Mays grow to become 
     productive residents of Dade County. They have watched their 
     grandchildren, Jacob Goldwire, Maya Mays, Ladonna, Emory and 
     Louis James Allen attend school and become active in their 
     community.
       And they renewed their marital vows in 1989, on their 44th 
     anniversary.
       Asked why they did not wait until their golden anniversary, 
     Mrs. Allen replied with a laugh, ``We didn't know we would 
     live that long.''