[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 70 (Tuesday, June 6, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1026-E1027]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              HONORING THE LIFE OF AMY BRYANT KIRKPATRICK

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. RUBEN HINOJOSA

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 6, 2006

  Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute, on the 
anniversary of her passing, to Amy Bryant Kirkpatrick of Granbury, 
Texas. Mrs. Kirkpatrick passed away June 6, 2005 after a long and 
fierce battle with cancer at the age of 27.
  Mrs. Kirkpatrick was born April 20, 1978 in Denton, Texas to parents 
Donald and Becky Bryant of Valley View, Texas. She was raised in Valley 
View and graduated from Valley View High School in 1996. Amy was the 
spiritual and kinetic center of her family, and was always a beam of 
light for her family to center around. As a devoted daughter, Amy 
served her parents as a shining example of caring upbringing through 
her awards and accolades and most importantly her character. She also 
served as an inspiring and loving sister to her brother Dustin Bryant. 
Through thick and thin, Amy always let her character and love for her 
family guide her through life and this outlook would lead her through 
struggles later on.
  Amy's contagious character and spirit was a draw for many, and it is 
no doubt that this led to her to the destiny of meeting the love of her 
life. She met and later married Lance Kirkpatrick of Burleson, Texas on 
May 23, 1998. They shared a love that stayed true to the vows made at 
their wedding. Through sickness and in health, for richer and poorer, 
till death do them part, Lance and Amy personified these vows in the 
seven years of their marriage.
  Answering the call of the passion in her life, Amy sought in her 
studies a chance to help others, particularly children. After 
graduating from Tarleton State University in 2000, Amy taught special 
education for Granbury ISD in Granbury, Texas. She chose to teach 
students with emotional and behavioral disorders, as it was up to her 
to guide these children who many had neglected. She saw in them what 
many others chose to look past, and that was hope. Through her 
sickness, Amy would only miss a day a week during her chemotherapy 
treatments to be away from her students. She did instill stability as 
well as earn the trust of these previously ignored children. During her 
second year of teaching, the Masonic Lodge of Granbury honored Amy as 
the Outstanding Teacher of Granbury ISD. In 2005, Amy was once again 
honored as Outstanding Teacher of the Year by Wal-Mart. The recognition 
of these awards truly highlights the dedication and devotion that Amy 
had toward disadvantaged students. She has made a long and lasting 
impact on many children she taught, as well as her colleagues. Beyond 
her awards and recognition, Amy will be remembered as a teacher who 
cared about her students when society was not as compassionate.
  Fulfilling her life's dream, Amy gave birth to a precious daughter, 
Hannah Grace on December 19, 2003. As a child she was told she would 
never have, Hannah was truly the calm

[[Page E1027]]

in Amy's storm. Her legacy will live on through this child she fought 
so hard to give birth to. We will all bear witness to the traits that 
Amy has passed onto Hannah, and it will be the duty of many to see the 
love and sacrifice that Amy gave will not be unknown to her daughter.
  As a daughter, sister, wife, and mother, Amy's memory and life will 
be in the reflection of many who knew her, as she touched so many 
around her. Her motto through out her sickness was ``I have cancer, 
cancer does not have me.''
  In closing, I would like to leave you with a quote by President John 
F. Kennedy which reads, ``The courage of life is often a less dramatic 
spectacle than the courage of a final moment; but it is no less a 
magnificent mixture of triumph and tragedy.'' We will all miss Amy's 
presence but never forget her life.

                          ____________________