[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 173 (Thursday, December 13, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2285]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO KATHY NGUYEN

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOSE E. SERRANO

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 12, 2001

  Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Ms. Kathy 
Nguyen, a dedicated hospital worker and resident of the Bronx for over 
20 years. Ms. Nguyen became an innocent victim of unfortunate 
circumstances on October 31, 2001 at the age of 61.
  Ms. Nguyen has been described as a loyal and caring woman who was 
well-known and well-loved in her South Bronx community. Like most 
Americans, I was shocked and saddened to hear of Ms. Nguyen's passing. 
I had remained hopeful that she would recover when it was determined 
that she had contracted Anthrax. Ms. Nguyen was a victim of horrible 
circumstance and while no family members could be located, she 
continues to be mourned by a host of friends and neighbors who miss her 
deeply. Ms. Nguyen will be remembered by the entire nation. While each 
of the lives lost in the past few months have reminded us of exactly 
how precious life is, Kathy Nguyen's passing brought home the reality 
of how vulnerable we all are, whether we are members of Congress, TV 
personalities, or hospital workers. That is one of the reasons that she 
will be remembered by the nation for years to come. Mr. Speaker, it is 
important that she be remembered more than as the first mysterious 
Anthrax victim, but as a unique and well-loved individual whose 
presence is missed by many. I am truly grateful for this opportunity to 
honor her memory.
  Mr. Speaker, Ms. Nguyen had encountered adversity more than once in 
her life. She escaped a war-torn Vietnam in 1975 in search of solace in 
the United States. She left behind her slain family and friends and 
began a new life, on her own, in a new country. Ms. Nguyen had been a 
business woman in her native country, owning and operating a bar in 
Saigon. The strength and courage this woman must have possessed in 
order to successfully overcome obstacles in her life are worthy of 
admiration. Besides Ms. Nguyen's quiet strength, she will be most 
remembered by her friends and neighbors for being a dear friend. Her 
friend Gina Ramjassigh was quoted as saying, ``Everyone that she 
touched loved her. She was an aunt to my children and she was the best 
friend I ever had.'' Other people who knew Ms. Nguyen have said that 
she was always reaching out to others.
  I ask my colleagues to join me today in honoring a life that was 
needlessly cut short and in memorializing Ms. Kathy Nguyen.

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