[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 108 (Thursday, August 1, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S7866]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       IN MEMORIAM: HILDA MARCIN

  Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I take this opportunity to share with the 
Senate the memory of one of my constituents, Hilda Marcin, who lost her 
life on September 11, 2001. Mrs. Marcin was 79 years old when the 
flight she was on, United Airlines Flight 93, was hijacked by 
terrorists. As we all know, that plane crashed in a Pennsylvania field, 
killing everyone on board.
  Mrs. Marcin was born in Schwedelbach, Germany. When she was 7 years 
old, her family emigrated to the United States to escape oppression. 
Like many immigrants, her family left all possessions behind and came 
only with the clothes on their backs.
  Her family settled in Irvington, New Jersey, where she attended local 
schools. She worked seven days a week in the payroll department of the 
New Jersey shipyards during World War II.
  A friend arranged a blind date with Edward Marcin and they were 
married on February 13, 1943. They had two daughters, Elizabeth and 
Carole. The Marcin family enjoyed participating in school functions, 
class trips, the PTA, and various church activities. Mr. and Mrs. 
Marcin were also socially and politically active in Irvington. Mrs. 
Marcin later worked as a special education teacher's aide.
  Hilda Marcin embraced life with enthusiasm and made the most of every 
minute. She adored her family and her granddaughter, Melissa Kemmerer 
Lata. She was an inspiration to those she touched, including the 
special needs children in the school where she worked. Her friends 
admired her positive attitude and her desire and ability to continue 
working during the later years of her life. Mrs. Marcin treasured 
freedom and democracy, and her American citizenship.
  At the time of her death, Mrs. Marcin was flying to San Francisco to 
live with her younger daughter, Carole O'Hare. She is survived by her 
daughter, Elizabeth Kemmerer and son-in-law Raymond Kemmerer; daughter 
Carole O'Hare and son-in-law Thomas O'Hare; and granddaughter Melissa 
Lata and Melissa's husband, Edward Lata.
  Mr. President, none of us is untouched by the terror of September 11, 
and many Californians were part of each tragic moment of that tragic 
day. Some were trapped in the World Trade Center towers. Some were at 
work in the Pentagon. And the fates of some were sealed as they boarded 
planes bound for San Francisco or Los Angeles.
  I offer today this tribute to one of the 51 Californians who perished 
on that awful morning. I want to assure the family of Hilda Marcin, and 
the families of all the victims, that their fathers and mothers, sons 
and daughters, aunts, uncles, brothers and sisters will not be 
forgotten.

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