[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 151 (Wednesday, October 21, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2268]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




HONORING THE MEMORY OF DR. KENNETH JERNIGAN, PRESIDENT EMERITUS OF THE 
                    NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND

                                 ______
                                 

                      HON. ROBERT L. EHRLICH, JR.

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 20, 1998

  Mr. EHRLICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay my respects to Dr. Kenneth 
Jernigan, who passed away on Monday, October 12, 1998, after a 
courageous fight with cancer. I offer my warmest sympathies to his 
family, friends, and the National Federation of the Blind, the 
organization for which he served as one of its principal leaders for 
more than forty-five years.
  I have greatly admired and respected Kenneth Jernigan and the 
National Federation of the blind since my days in the Maryland State 
Legislature as a state delegate. With chapters in every state and 
almost every community, the Federation is the nation's oldest and 
largest organization of blind persons. Its influence today serves as a 
reminder of the culmination of Kenneth Jernigan's lifetime work and 
commitment to improving the quality of life for the blind throughout 
this nation and the world.
  Occasionally, an issue is brought to my attention where I can seek a 
meaningful legislative remedy for a substantial number of people. Four 
years ago, with the assistance of Dr. Jernigan and the Federation, I 
began to work with my colleagues in the House to reestablish the Social 
Security earnings test link between senior citizens and the blind. Dr. 
Jernigan emphasized to me how the ``de-linkage'' of this historic tie 
would have a negative impact to the self esteem of blind workers, 
preventing them from pursuing better employment opportunities. In his 
memory, I pledge to continue pushing for bipartisan legislation to 
restore this important incentive.
  Dr. Jernigan will be greatly missed. His selfless accomplishments on 
behalf of the blind and the sighted are immeasurable. Because of his 
example, many of us will do the right thing by furthering his good 
work. It has been a great honor to have worked with such an influential 
and highly respected leader.
  In conclusion, I would respectfully enter into the Record one of Dr. 
Jernigan's favoable sonnets, ``Remember'' by Christiana Rossetti:


     Remember me when I am gone away,
     Gone far away into the silent land;
     When you can no more hold me by the hand,
     Nor I half turn to go yet turning stay.
     Remember me when no more day by day,
     You tell me of our future that you planned;
     Only remember me; you understand,
     It will be late to counsel then or pray.
     Yet, if you should forget me for a while,
     And afterwards remember, do not grieve;
     For if the darkness and corruption leave
     A vestige of the thoughts that once I had,
     Better by far you should forget and smile,
     Than that you should remember and be sad.

     

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