[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 41 (Friday, March 22, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H2703]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              TRIBUTE TO THE ALL-AMERICAN JUNIOR GUILDERS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from New York [Mr. Houghton] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. HOUGHTON. Mr. Speaker, this clearly has not been a happy day 
here. We have talked about issues that divide rather than bring us 
together. But I would like to talk about something that does bring us 
together. It is something that happened several weeks ago when a group 
from the district that I represent, in upstate New York, in Jamestown, 
NY, came down and entertained and gave joy and perspective to a whole 
group of us, those of us who were particularly interested in the 
Appalachian Regional Commission and the things that it did.
  Frankly, I would like to talk about this in a way that is sort of 
unusual. I would like to talk about names, and if you would bear with 
me, Mr. Speaker, I would like to talk about the names involved, this 
the All-American Junior Guilders, great young group of people, happy, 
positive, the people who are going to be leading our country in the 
years ahead. They are associated with the Lucille Ball Threater. 
Lucille Ball incidentally, was born in upstate New York. And the driver 
and the life giver of this group is a lady called Helen Merrill. She 
has been involved with the theater for over 30 years and has been the 
spark of this thing, and you just feel better just seeing her and being 
around her.
  They performed at lots of pretty significant places: the White House, 
Oprey Land, Disney World, Kennedy Center. These kids range in age from 
about 7 to 16. It is an all-volunteer organization. It really makes you 
proud to sort of be with them.
  What I would like to do, if you would bear with me, is let me mention 
some of the names and it is going to be a long list, but I think it is 
important that each person as an individual is recognized here.
  First of all, there is a lady called Mrs. Lucille Miller, who is the 
musical director. She has been a great help for Helen Merrill. Then 
there is Mary Jane Gerstel, choreographer; Jim Jones, technical 
director; Bob Servis, on drums; and Tiffany Wakeley, student assistant 
to the director. All people who keep this organization alive as kids go 
from grade to grade to grade.
  What I would like to do is to mention the names of these children. 
They are all from upstate New York. I am very proud of the fact that 
they are, because I was born and brought up there and they are terrific 
people.
  Let me just mention them:
  Leah Gerstel, Chad Wakeley, Tiffany Gale Wakeley, Nichole Adams, 
Alycia Anderson, Ashley Arnone, Trisha Configlio, Jamielee Bonfiglio-
Davis, Beth Ann Calzone, Laura Calzone, Erik Carlson-Coulter, Shane 
Comber, Lindsay Ann Coons, Jillian D'Angelo, Rachel D'Angelo, Carmaine 
Davis, Steve Davis, Kara DeAngelo, Mary Evelyn Demarco, Alexis Denn, 
Chelsea Denn, Melissa Rachelle Ferraro, Andrew Freeman, Kevin Fuller, 
Rachael Gerstel, Nicole Gullo, Alan Paul Gustafson, Jr., Scott Hannon, 
Shawn Hannon, Jessica Herron, Emily Huffman, Holly Louise Jones, Cory 
King, Chrystal Kota, Katie McMaster, Jennifer Lynn Murray, Ashley 
Muscarella, Jamin Scott Peace, Lynnsey Penna, Rachael Penna, Aubrey 
Perlee, Francis Peterson, Brenda Proestler, Anthony Sali, Lindsey 
Michelle Saullo, Crystal Swan, and Jessica Wheeler.
  There is so much that we talk about in terms of the unhappiness of 
this world. These people give us happy memories. They are the light of 
our future, and I am very proud to mention their names and to be 
associated with them.

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