[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 50 (Thursday, March 27, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E614]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E614]]
   HONORING EDITH PALMER ON THE OCCASION OF HER RETIREMENT FROM THE 
                 SPRINGVILLE LEAGUE FOR THE HANDICAPPED

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. THOMAS M. REYNOLDS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 27, 2003

  Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor a 
remarkable and devoted individual. Tomorrow, Edith Palmer will be 
honored by her community on the occasion of her retirement from the 
Springville League for the Handicapped and Preschool Learning Center.
  For 43 years, Edie has been the heart and soul of a facility that has 
given new hope to parents and new opportunities for the more than 160 
preschool children who come through its doors each year. I know that 
not only because Edie lives in my hometown, but also because I am one 
of those parents.
  In May, 1960, Edie answered a newspaper ad calling together parents 
of disabled children to meet and discuss the special educational needs 
of their children. These concerned parents first met under a tree on 
East Avenue, where they planted the seeds for what has become one of 
the premiere educational facilities for handicapped and learning 
disabled children in all of New York state.
  Edie's devotion to the Springville League for the Handicapped began 
from her own experience as the parent of a hearing disabled son. Like 
other parents of handicapped children in the 1950's, Edie felt, as she 
said in her own words, ``adrift on the ocean with no help on the 
horizon.''
  That first day, Edie volunteered to handle all the group's 
secretarial work, and later that year became Board Secretary for their 
volunteer board of directors--a post she would hold for 20 years. For 
its first dozen years, the League provided volunteer help for children, 
using donated space, volunteer staff and providing help to children at 
no cost to their parents.
  Thanks, in part, to Edie's leadership, dedication and passion, the 
Springville League for the Handicapped and Preschool Center opened the 
doors of its own facility in 1987; and today employs 95 people, serving 
160 disabled preschool children each year. Earlier this year, Edie 
Palmer was named the Springville Chamber of Commerce ``Citizen of the 
Year,'' an honor well deserved.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that this Congress join me in saluting Edie Palmer 
for her 43 years of service to the Springville League for the 
Handicapped and Preschool Learning Center. As a parent, I can 
personally attest to the tremendous difference that she has made in the 
lives of children and families in Western New York, and I am proud and 
grateful to be able to call her my friend.

                          ____________________