[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 055 (Monday, April 7, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E691-E692]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   CONGRATULATIONS TO KATHLEEN GEARTY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BARNEY FRANK

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 7, 2003

  Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, one of the important 
activities of the Veterans of Foreign Wars is the Voice of Democracy 
contest which that organization conducts for high school students. In 
2003, more than 80,000 secondary school students took part. Given this, 
it is obviously a great honor for a young person to have won in one of 
the important categories.
  I was therefore very pleased to be informed by Dennis Cullinan, 
Director of the National Legislative Service of the VFW, that Kathleen 
M. Gearty from the Congressional District that I represent won the 2003 
broadcast scriptwriting contest. I am very pleased to have a chance to 
congratulate Ms. Gearty on her very significant accomplishment, and 
because the theme of her inspirational essay is so important, I ask 
that it be printed here.

                          Freedom's Obligation

                          (By Kathleen Gearty)

       On a crisp January morning a baby girl entered the world. 
     The cards were given, the gifts were received and a couple of 
     months later the christening gown, a simple satin sleeveless 
     under dress with a hand stitched cover dress and lace robe 
     with matching bonnet, was placed on the baby and she was 
     baptized. Although I don't know all the details I do know 
     that someone painstakingly and lovingly hand-stitched this 
     gown as if knowing it would be passed down and treasured by 
     my family.
       After that baby girl followed two more little girls. As the 
     oldest had, the two after her wore the gown. This tradition 
     has been passed down for forty years and will continue as 
     more babies in my family are brought into the world. As the 
     gown is passed down the obligation to preserve it, 
     responsibility to inherit it and the love to cherish it is 
     passed along with the garment. In a way freedom's obligations 
     are similar to this heirloom.
       The christening gown that was worn by the three sisters was 
     then worn by the older daughter's two daughters and the 
     youngest daughter's youngest child. While passing the gown 
     down there was much at stake. The preparation of preserving 
     the gown and the preparation of letting it go. The gown was 
     kept and locked in a large cedar chest in its original box 
     wrapped in tissue paper. Passing it on is a challenge but 
     inheriting it is an honor. The next keeper of the beautiful 
     gown has the responsibility of the task of preserving it, so 
     that it may be passed on and treasured by the next proud 
     mother and father.
       As the gown was sewn together, so was our country, stitch 
     by stitch. We fought for this freedom and the obligations 
     that go along with it. We were all pierced by that great 
     needle, and blood was shed but looking at the creation we 
     have developed makes us realize that the sacrifices were 
     worth while. The gown like our country's freedom had 
     transformed and was no longer merely a piece of white cloth 
     and a spool of thread but a privilege, an obligation and 
     honor.
       The gown was worn then passed on; freedom is earned and 
     then also passed on. The baptism dress must be preserved and 
     cherished by the holder whose children will wear it next. 
     Freedom must also be conserved in a manner of respect and 
     loyalty so that children can live an even better life than 
     their parents. Both, the heirloom and freedom are similar in 
     the respect that both have to be treasured, or the joy in 
     possessing such beautiful treasures is gone. As an American 
     it is an obligation to respect freedom and to care for it, 
     for freedom is like a fragile christening gown and with one 
     little snag of a thread it could unravel before your very 
     eyes and be gone forever. My obligation is to ensure that 
     whatever I do with my life involves

[[Page E692]]

     the preservation and the passing on of freedom just as I will 
     honor my family obligations.

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