[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 65 (Friday, May 16, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H2865]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO HAZEL SECHLER

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from North Carolina [Mrs. Myrick] is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mrs. MYRICK. Mr. Speaker, another part of the genteel soul of America 
died last Saturday night in the small North Carolina town of Weldon, 
just off I-95, a town where everyone knows everyone else, where just a 
short time ago evening strolls ended with neighbors chatting on 
spacious front porches, where everyone was responsible for everyone 
else. That is the way it was.
  Hazel Sechler was virtually blind, 88 years old, and she lived alone 
and had for over half a century since her only husband met an untimely 
death. She threw herself into her church work and into her 
townspeople's needs, including those of my husband Ed, totally into his 
life for all of his life. She was truly one of the family.
  Hazel Sechler was a genteel woman, no cross words for anyone, and she 
possessed an awesome positive attitude. Hats and gloves did not 
separate her from the town wino or other misfortunate. She was truly a 
lady.
  Saturday night, someone cut her telephone line while she was talking 
on the phone to a neighbor. He forced himself inside her house, raped 
her, and slashed her throat. A genteel part of America died Saturday 
night; and in a national sense, virtually no one noticed. Yet, Hazel 
Sechler, the infirm, blind old lady of Weldon, NC, left perhaps enough 
in those she touched to rekindle the love of God in other places.

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