[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 3 (Thursday, January 9, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S126-S127]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 IN RECOGNITION OF THE 70TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY OF MILLARD AND HATTYE 
                               MAE BIDDLE

 Mr. CARPER. Mr. President, I rise today in recognition of the 
70th wedding anniversary of my dear friends Millard and Hattye Mae 
Biddle. Our friendship has spanned some three decades. I want to 
congratulate them on behalf of all Delawareans wish them both the very 
best in all that lies ahead.
  As they celebrate this milestone in their lives, they will surely 
reflect on the many changes, successes, and accomplishments they have 
experienced together over the last 70 years. Theirs is a journey of 
which they can be proud.
  The Biddles have lived in the Dover community for many years. For a 
number of those years, they owned a bed and breakfast in Wyoming, DE. 
At the start of my career, I worked in Kent County and lived in New 
Castle County in the northern part of out State. Their trademark 
hospitality was in full swing. I stayed so often as their guest, they 
finally gave me my own bedroom and a key to the House! They have always 
made me feel like a member of their family, and their home became, in 
many ways, mine as well.
  Both Millard and Hattye Mae have lived their lives in the service of 
others. Long before it was popular, Hattye Mae recognized the 
tremendous need for early childhood education for kindergartners and 
preschool children in Kent County. She started a successful preschool 
called the Little School. Both the school and its students--hundreds of 
them--have grown up, stronger under her watchful eye.
  Hattye Mae volunteers at the Old State House in Dover, giving tours 
to the many visitors. She has served as a member of the board of 
directors and is now an honorary member of the Board of Directors of 
Kent/Sussex Industries, a nonprofit organization that provides work 
opportunities for Delawareans each year. And no July in Harrington is 
complete without seeing her sweet smile at the annual Delaware State 
Fair.
  Millard started his career delivering milk for the Frear Milk 
Company. After serving in World War II, Millard opened a grocery store. 
He returned to public service as a Kent County assessor shortly 
thereafter, from which he happily retired.

[[Page S127]]

  Millard served as a member of the Dover Housing Authority and served 
two terms on the Dover City Council. He is, in fact, the oldest living 
former council member. Millard has enjoyed many hours giving tours at 
the E.R. Johnson Victrola Museum in Dover, reading about the talking 
machines, records and other relics of the Victor Talking Machine 
Company of Eldridge R. Johnson Manufacturing Machinists. A wiz at clock 
making, Millard enjoys using old Victrola records and transforming them 
into clocks. They are, by all accounts, incredibly impressive.
  Today, I rise to congratulate Millard and Hattye Mae on their 70th 
wedding anniversary. In a day and age where many marriages do not last 
70 months or even 70 weeks, the strength and durability of their union 
serves as a source of inspiration to us all. In addition, each of them 
has demonstrated great devotion to their family, three children, nine 
grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren, and to their community in 
too many ways to number. I know that their years together hold many 
beautiful memories. It is my hope that those ahead will be filled with 
continued joy and contentment. They give true meaning to the words of 
the poet who wrote, ``Grow old along with me, the best is yet to 
be.''

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