[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 81 (Monday, June 14, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1095]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 HONORING 45 YEARS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE

                                 ______
                                 

                      HON. RODNEY P. FRELINGHUYSEN

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 14, 2004

  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Junior 
Matrons of Morristown, New Jersey in my Congressional District who this 
year are celebrating their 45th Anniversary.
  In 1959, the Junior Matrons of Morristown began with a group of 
twelve young African-American women who pooled their time and resources 
to found a working group to address one of the critical issues facing 
African-American youth--low numbers of high school graduates going on 
to pursue post-secondary education.
  Their motto became ``service through scholarship,'' and the group 
began working to increase opportunities for black youth to attend 
college. A lack of cultural and historical precedent among African-
Americans, the difficulty in financing college education and the 
limited track record of admissions of black high school graduates to 
major colleges and universities, were just a few of the obstacles 
confronting young African-Americans who may have wanted to attend 
college at the time. When the twelve young black women of the Junior 
Matrons of Morristown got together, they decided they would take direct 
action to change this scenario.
  In a bold move, they decided to host an annual cotillion that would 
serve at least three purposes: (1) it would help raise the 
consciousness of the African-American community about education as a 
vehicle for pursuing economic, political and social advancement; (2) it 
would recognize and reward those who remained committed to achieving 
their first major educational milestone and (3) through personal, 
corporate, agency and organizations contributions, it would generate 
substantive funds needed to encourage and enable high school students 
to translate the dream of a college education into a reality.
  The passion and energy behind the founding of the Junior Matrons has 
continued unabated for these last 45 years, and is a credit to the 
collective vision of these twelve charter members: The late Sue 
Graddick, Harriet Britt, the late Frances Younginer, my dear friend Dr. 
Felicia B. Jamison, Emma L. Martin, Nancy Yett, Muriel Hiller, Nadine 
Alston, the late Emanualine Smith, Natalie Holmes, the late Marie 
Davis, the late Natalie Thurmond Lattimore and Cecelia Dowdy.
  Over the years the Junior Matrons have been honored by the National 
Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the National 
Urban League, among many others. As a testimony of the enduring 
idealism of these inspired women, the Junior Matrons of Morristown have 
provided financial assistance to over 3,000 high school students, and 
has dispensed over $2 million over its lifetime. The beneficial and 
residual impact of this assistance cannot be over-estimated. Although a 
few of the original group are no longer with us, new leaders have taken 
on the mantle and are endowed with the same zeal and vision.
  Mr. Speaker, I am quite certain that the Junior Matrons will continue 
in the years ahead to promote the cause of quality education and help 
provide opportunities for our young people to pursue college degrees 
and productive, fulfilling careers. I ask you and my colleagues to join 
me in congratulating the Junior Matrons of Morristown as they celebrate 
45 dedicated years of serving our community.

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