[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 68 (Friday, May 14, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E867]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CONGRATULATING MR. AND MRS. ALMON LONG ON THE HAPPY OCCASION OF THEIR 
                        50TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. PAUL E. KANJORSKI

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 13, 2004

  Mr. KANJORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Mr. and 
Mrs. Almon J. Long of Larksville, Pennsylvania, as the happy couple 
celebrates the joyous occasion of their 50th Wedding Anniversary today.
  My good friend Al Long is a retired grocery business owner who served 
in the Army. As a veteran, he has long been a strong advocate of 
veterans' rights. When I need to know what is important to our 
veterans, it comforts me to know that I can always count on Al to air 
the concerns of Northeastern Pennsylvania's veterans. When the Wilkes-
Barre VA Medical Center was in danger of being closed, Al headed up the 
local effort to save the facility, including helping to round up more 
than 30,000 signatures that I personally delivered to the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs.
  Al has held several offices within the Pennsylvania Department of 
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, including State 
Commander for the organization. Al currently serves as the State 
Legislative Chairman.
  Cora Long is a retired garment worker who remains active in the VFW 
Post 283 in Kingston.
  The couple has three children, Linda Colianni of Larksville; Lori 
Schmidt of Wapwallopen; and Allan Long of Ashley. The couple also 
enjoys their three wonderful grandchildren, Vinny, Michael and 
Courtney. They also enjoy time with their pug, Rudy.
  The Longs were married in the First Evangelical United Brethren 
Church with the Rev. Warren Loesch officiating. Cora's attendants 
included the late Joyce Shewan, Marilyn Valent Duda, the late Mrs. 
Ronald Williams and Patricia Swiderski. Al's groomsmen were William 
Rehn Jr., the late Edwards Shewan, the late Michael Figler, Arthur 
Rehn, the late John Lockman and William Young.
  Cora Long is the daughter of the late William and Ruth Rehn of 
Wilkes-Barre. Al is the son of the late Mary Gregory of Larksville.
  The couple will be honored at a party on Saturday, May 15, 2004, at 
Saint Ignatius Church in Kingston.
  Mr. Speaker, it is an honor and privilege to stand here today and pay 
tribute to the Longs, a loving couple who has played such a vital role 
in ensuring veterans' rights and who stand as pillars of their 
community.

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