[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 117 (Tuesday, September 19, 2006)]
[House]
[Page H6663]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      IN MEMORY OF ESTHER MARTINEZ

  (Mr. UDALL of New Mexico asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Madam Speaker, I rise today with a heavy 
heart to honor the memory of a very special New Mexican, Esther 
Martinez.
  Esther Martinez is renowned for her work as an educator, author and 
master story teller.
  Last Thursday, Esther was in Washington, DC, where I had the 
privilege of helping present her with the Nation's highest honor for 
folk and traditional artists. At the age of 94, Esther was named as a 
2006 National Heritage Fellow by the National Endowment for the Arts. 
With members of her family in the audience, Esther rose to be honored 
and received a standing ovation for her life's work preserving her 
native Tewa language and traditions.
  Tragically, while making her way back home from the airport Saturday 
evening, Esther was killed in a traffic accident.
  Our hearts weigh heavy with the news of Esther's tragic passing, but 
her legacy will forever live in the contributions she made to our 
Nation as an educator, linguist and master story teller.
  Our deepest sympathies are with her family today.

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