[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 81 (Tuesday, June 12, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1067-E1068]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 TRIBUTE TO LAKE CITY, FLORIDA'S USO SHOW PERFORMED BY MEMBERS OF THE 
    AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY UNIT 57 AND AMERICAN LEGION POST 57, 
                         DEPARTMENT OF FLORIDA

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. KAREN L. THURMAN

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 12, 2001

  Mrs. THURMAN. Mr. Speaker, I am here today to pay tribute to a 
wonderful group of men and women in Lake City, Florida who started 
their own local USO troupe and are delighting audiences near and far. 
The 14 members that make up the two performing groups--called the 
Eloquence and the Sweethearts--are all members of the American Legion 
Auxiliary Unit 57 or the American Legion Post 57, Department of 
Florida. As part of their USO show, they wear spirited costumes from 
the 1950s and '60s and lip synch oldies but goodies once performed by 
entertainers with the United Service Organization (the USO) for our 
troops overseas.
  In celebration of the USO's 60th birthday, the Lake City group 
performed a special Valentine's Day dance featuring memorable tunes 
like Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy. They raised $300 that night, which the 
group generously donated to the USO. Since then, the group has 
continued to entertain audiences throughout the community and state at 
Lake City Community College, the VA Hospital, the Shriners and a 
nursing home in Orlando. They've even performed during Elder Day at the 
state Capitol in Tallahassee.
  I'm so proud of them, and their tremendous spirit, enthusiasm and 
patriotism. Mr. Speaker, please join me in recognizing the following 
individuals who are part of this unique mission to rekindle the memory 
of the USO and to keep its work alive: Ginger Fitzgerald; Pat 
Barriteau; Annette Burnham; Larry Burnham; Gaynell Burnham; Betty Jo 
Henderson; Wanda Procopio; Sandy Reeves; Paula Schuck; Pat Priest; 
Barbara Reppert; Carol Underhill; Alberto Marriott; Mark Thomas; and 
Marian Wyman.
  I would also like to submit for the Record a history of the group 
called ``A Small Flower'' written by troupe member, Patricia Barriteau, 
who is also the Unit National Security Chairman of the American Legion 
Auxiliary Unit 57.

                             A Small Flower

       Like a seed that blossoms into a beautiful flower, a small 
     project within our Auxiliary blossomed beyond belief. The 
     spirit of the holidays and the challenge to fill the dance 
     hall for our Holly Ball was the beginning. Someone said, 
     ``Let's sing some songs when the band takes a break.'' Eyes 
     rolled and heads wagged. I thought to myself, `How 
     ridiculous; I've got the voice of a frog.' But six members 
     took the challenge, and little did they know what was in 
     store.
       The first undertaking was to decide exactly what we were 
     going to do. This was the point when we discovered that no 
     one could really sing. So we decided instead to choose a few 
     select songs from the past that brought back memories and lip 
     synch. Among the original songs were Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, 
     Soldier Boy and God Bless The USA. We wore red, white and 
     blue dresses, shiny fabric with long gloves and high heels. 
     Finally, opening night arrived and we were a hit.
       We started planning for the Annual Sweetheart Dance soon 
     after the first of the year. Enthusiasm was high so we 
     decided to entertain at the dance. By now, there was a name 
     for the group: The Eloquence. It was time to make the program 
     a little longer so we added two new acts: The Sweethearts, 
     performing Sincerely and Dedicated To The One I Love and Kate 
     Smith with God Bless America.
       Four women make up The Sweethearts. They wear dark pants, 
     white shirts, sequined red vests, cummerbunds and red bow 
     ties. As for Kate Smith, she wears her signature black dress 
     with a sweetheart neck and a long lovely silk handkerchief. 
     She is truly a vision of her early days. Also, a member of 
     the Sons of the American Legion joined the ranks in his army 
     fatigues. He'd join in Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy and Hang On 
     Sloopy.
       The birth of the USO show came about in somewhat of a 
     similar manner. Out of somewhere a voice said, ``We look like 
     a USO troupe!'' and another said, ``Let's build that up.'' 
     We'll take up a collection for the USO. And before you know 
     it, WWII, Korean War and Vietnam-era songs were being 
     practiced and remembered. We gathered information about the 
     USO from the Internet, the library and the encyclopedia, 
     wrote a history of the USO that would serve as the opening to 
     the show.
       The night of the Sweetheart Dance arrived, and we had the 
     jitters. So the District Chaplain had us take hands, bow our 
     heads and ask God to help us through this without making 
     fools of ourselves. We walked onto the stage and to our 
     surprise there were

[[Page E1068]]

     more than 350 people in the hall. Thankfully, the show went 
     off without a hitch, and after all expenses, we made $300, 
     which we sent to the USO in the name of American Legion 
     Auxiliary Unit 57, Lake City, Florida.
       Soon, we received numerous invitations to perform. We were 
     asked to entertain for the residents of the Veterans Home in 
     Lake City. We performed at a luncheon for senior citizens 
     from five surrounding counties at the request of the local 
     chapter of the Florida Association of Community Colleges. By 
     now, the telephone calls were streaming in. Could we perform 
     for the Shriners in May to raise more money for the USO? How 
     about coming to the VA Hospital in April? Can you make it to 
     some of the local festivals? Can you entertain at the 
     Veterans of Foreign Wars Post Home? That would be another 
     place where we can take up a collection for the USO. It 
     seemed as if everyone knew about the American Legion 
     Auxiliary USO presentation. We recognized veterans in the 
     community at every program. The most outstanding request of 
     all came when we were asked to appear in Tallahassee in the 
     Rotunda at the Capitol on April 19.
       Our local USO dance troupe of the American Legion Auxiliary 
     Unit 57, Florida, is doing more than preserving an old 
     pastime. We are rekindling a love of our country and 
     recognizing our veterans for a job well done. We are also 
     collecting donations for the USO so that they will be able to 
     continue to make life a little better for our young men and 
     women in the military who serve our country so dutifully here 
     and around the world.
       This project has truly turned into a very big red poppy.

       

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