[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 81 (Monday, June 14, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1096]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      LINDA WHITE-EPPS POST OFFICE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ROSA L. DeLAURO

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 14, 2004

  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce legislation to 
pay tribute to Linda White-Epps by renaming the Whitneyville Branch 
Post Office building in Hamden, Connecticut as the ``Linda White-Epps 
Post Office.''
  Linda was an extraordinary woman who dedicated her life to making her 
community better. She served in town government and on local non-profit 
boards. Most of all, though, she was devoted to the cause of raising 
awareness about breast cancer among African American women. I am proud 
to have known her and to have called her my friend.
  Linda was an executive board member of the local NAACP and sat on the 
Board of Directors of the local Boys and Girls Club. In 2001, she was 
elected to the Hamden Legislative Council. But it was her work in 
fighting breast cancer that led her to be named a Point of Light by the 
Points of Light Foundation in 2001.
  She created Sisters' Journey, a non-profit organization that provides 
education and support to breast cancer survivors, their friends and 
their families. In 1999, Sisters Journey published a calendar featuring 
pictures of women who have beaten the disease. Each turn of a page 
provides a look at another month, more stories from ``sisters'' and 
words of encouragement to women. Each page says examine your breasts 
and have regular mammograms. The unveiling of the calendar still occurs 
every October at a fundraiser known as the ``Pink Tea,'' a tradition 
Linda started.
  Linda was one of the women profiled in the calendar. She beat breast 
cancer in 1990, and spent the last decade of her life helping other 
women do the same. Sadly, she finally succumbed to the disease last 
year. Linda faced breast cancer in such a quiet way that many of her 
neighbors and friends were not aware of the gravity of her illness.
  She approached advocacy with humility, but received several awards 
from the American Cancer Society. She also won the Greater New Haven 
NAACP Freedom Fund Award, and the ``Daily Point of Light'' award. Linda 
was also responsible for organizing the first ``Relay for Life,'' held 
in the Hamden area. The event raised about $50,000 for the American 
Cancer Society and also reached a larger segment of African American 
women participants.
  Mr. Speaker, Linda was the granddaughter of a postal carrier. Like 
her grandfather, she lived a remarkable life that made a difference in 
her community. Honoring her by renaming the Hamden Post Office after 
her would be a fitting tribute.

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