[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 48 (Thursday, March 25, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E561]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 TRIBUTE TO HAMILTON HIGH SCHOOL CHOIR

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. HAROLD E. FORD, JR.

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 25, 1999

  Mr. FORD. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to thirty 
extraordinarily gifted young men and women from Tennessee's Ninth 
Congressional District who are in Washington this week to display their 
talents before the nation.
  Under the leadership of Mr. Reginald Gaston, the Hamilton High School 
Choir has become one of the best concert and gospel choirs in the State 
of Tennessee. Dedicated to the pursuit of excellence, the Hamilton 
Choir has earned national recognition for their superior ratings in the 
recent Mid-America Choral Festival in Orlando, Florida.
  It gives me great honor, Mr. Speaker, to present the names of these 
thirty fine young representatives Tennessee's Ninth District: Marlon 
Mitchell, Mario Albright, Jason Mitchell, Jacinth Ragland, Jattir 
Ragland, Phillip Britteum, Jonathan Anderson, Burl Toler, Jared 
Bledsoe, Tre' Canady, Royry Walker, Rickeya Townes, Felecia Wiggins, 
Sally Ousley, Yamina Tunstall, Sekida Norwood, Tawanda Dean, Sukeeya 
Haley, April Johnson, Christian Kirk, Sharonda, Walker, Ranata Adams, 
Thais Polk, Jovannii Ayers, LaDaris Spearman, Paige Brown, Yolanda 
Bolton, Ashley Wheeler, Monique Joiner, Tinisha Daniels, and Ms. 
Adrianne Strong. The hard work of these young people defies the 
inaccurate notion of an ``uncommitted generation.'' The young people of 
this nation possess an overwhelming level of dedication and aptitude, 
and the students of the Hamilton High School Choir serve as a testimony 
to that.
  We must continue to encourage the young people of this nation. We 
must continue to remind them of their potential. Moreover, we must 
congratulate them when they reach their goals and fulfill their 
potential. In that spirit, it gives me great pleasure to present this 
inspirational group of young men and women to official Washington, to 
my colleagues and to the hundreds of Americans who will be touring the 
people's capitol. May their voices ring from the steps of the capitol 
and echo the dedication and commitment of their generation.

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