[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 86 (Thursday, June 17, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1306]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNITION OF HOPE ELIZABETH BROWN, LOYAL HIGHWAY CONTRACT LETTER 
              CARRIER FOR THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ROBERT A. WEYGAND

                            of rhode island

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 17, 1999

  Mr. WEYGAND. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Hope Elizabeth 
Brown, a resident of Exeter, Rhode Island, who will retire on June 30, 
1999, from carrying mail for the Exeter Post Office. Ms. Brown is 
particularly remarkable in her dedication and loyalty to the United 
States Postal Service and the state of Rhode Island because of the 
length of her service. This extraordinary woman--who, in the words of a 
coworker, is now ``eighty-three years young''--has worked for the 
Postal Service for sixty years.
  Except for two years during World War II when Ms. Brown acted as 
Postmaster in Exeter, all the years of her employment were spent 
delivering mail in Exeter and nearby Slocum. And, as we all know, our 
letter carriers work six days a week, fifty-two weeks a year, through 
rain, sleet, and snow. Ms. Brown certainly contributed to that 
reputation; in her sixty years of service, she missed work only because 
of family sorrows.
  Ms. Brown's work ethic and dedication to the people she serves has 
been mirrored by the devotion shown her by her family, friends, and 
coworkers. Although she still insists on placing the mail in the boxes 
herself, members of her family support her by driving the route, as she 
no longer always feels capable of handling the delivery truck on the 
highway. The current Postmaster of Exeter, Mr. Thomas Fisher, recently 
wrote of Ms. Brown that she ``exemplifies the spirit of America's mail 
system,'' and that, furthermore, ``her dedication, commitment, and 
honesty is surpassed only by her love for the mail.'' On June 19, her 
community will honor her with a retirement party at the American Legion 
Hall in North Kingstown, Rhode Island, a well-deserved tribute to her 
service and example to us all.
  In today's booming economy, we sometimes forget to recognize and 
celebrate the workers who, simply by doing their jobs faithfully and 
well every day, ensure that this country continues to thrive. Ms. 
Brown, through her work as a Highway Contract Letter Carrier, has made 
an amazing contribution both to her community and, by extension, to her 
country as a whole. Without people like her, who show up for work every 
day without excuse or complaint, we would not be enjoying the economic 
prosperity we have today. Although her type of work ethic should be the 
norm, it should never be taken for granted, and we must always remember 
to thank the people who work hard for us. Please join with me in the 
long-overdue appreciation of Hope Elizabeth Brown and other dedicated 
workers like her.

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