[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 63 (Tuesday, May 4, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E851]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING CECILE HERSHON

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DALE E. KILDEE

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 4, 1999

  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I stand before you today to recognize and 
honor the accomplishments of a truly remarkable woman. On May 5, 
members of the Flint, Michigan, Northern High School Alumni Association 
will gather to honor five Distinguished Fellows, members of their 
alumni community who have contributed to legacy and rich history of 
Northern High School, and of Flint. One Distinguished Fellow to be 
honored is the late Ms. Cecile Hershon.
  Born in Lansing, Michigan in 1920, Cecile Hershon and her family 
eventually moved to Flint, where she graduated from Northern High 
School in 1938. In 1944, Cecile was recruited by the United States Army 
and began her long military career as a civilian clerk in Arlington, 
Virginia. From there she went on to become a part of the newly merged 
Army and Navy Signal Services, first known as the Armed Forces Security 
Agency as is currently what we know as the National Security Agency.
  Cecile began to further her career with the National Security Agency, 
becoming adept as intelligence research, analysis, and reporting, and 
soon became a exceptional cryptographer. She later accepted an overseas 
position where she continued to perfect her skills, allowing her to 
function in a variety of supervisory and management positions. 
Throughout her career, which spanned an incomparable 42 years, Cecile 
received numerous honors and commendations, including one of the 
agency's highest honors, the National Meritorious Civilian Service 
Award in 1986. Cecile also became involved in WIN--Women in NSA, an 
organization dedicated to increasing personal growth and development 
among both men and women within the NSA. As a member of WIN, Cecile was 
honored with their President's Award on two separate occasions. She was 
also the first recipient of WIN's Dorothy T. Blum Award for excellence 
in personal and professional development.
  In addition to being a model employee, Cecile was an ardent 
humanitarian as well. She was constantly found extending a helping hand 
to friends, colleagues, and sometimes mere acquaintances, sometimes at 
her own personal or professional expense, and with no thought of 
personal gain. Countless members of the NSA and the military attribute 
their success to Cecile's support and encouragement. There have been 
many accounts of people who were convinced by Cecile to remain in the 
NSA, complete their education, and honor familial obligations. Indeed, 
many of our military are better soldiers due to the influence of Cecile 
Hershon.
  Mr. Speaker, Cecile Hershon lived her life in a truly selfless and 
benevolent manner, and it goes without saying that her influence 
extends even to this day. Her life's work, serving her country for so 
long as a civilian, is commanding of the highest respect.

                          ____________________