[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 129 (Thursday, October 6, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2032]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 IN RECOGNITION OF HAROLD AND JUANITA BLAIR'S 57TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                    HON. JUANITA MILLENDER-McDONALD

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 6, 2005

  Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate and honor 
Harold and Juanita Blair who celebrated their 57th wedding anniversary 
on September 15th. Harold and Juanita have been lifelong companions, 
having literally grown up next door to each other in North Braddock, 
Pennsylvania.
  Their life together began when Harold asked Juanita out for a date on 
a dare during their high school years. Harold, who was 17 at the time, 
was a star on the high school basketball team, while Juanita, at 15, 
was focused on her school studies. As a result, Juanita didn't really 
take interest in him until after he had asked her out.
  Because of America's culture of segregation during the 1940s, Harold 
was denied a basketball scholarship to any college, so he enlisted in 
the army, while Juanita attended college in Maryland.
  After Harold was discharged from the Army, they married on September 
15, 1948. However, because of their ages, they initially kept their 
marriage a secret from their families until they moved to Detroit, 
Michigan where they have lived since 1949.
  They have three beautiful children: Harold Jr., Joseph and Lori, my 
daughter-in-law, and five beautiful grandchildren. Juanita still wears 
the original wedding ring that Harold gave her in 1948. And although 
over the years Harold has given Juanita newer and more expensive rings 
as a show of his love and affection, Juanita continues to wear the 
original ring that sealed their lifelong journey together.
  In celebration of their more than half a century of devotion and 
love, I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join me in 
honoring Harold and Juanita Blair as they celebrate their 57th wedding 
anniversary.

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