[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 125 (Friday, September 29, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1968]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING MR. GERALD (JERRY) BELANGER

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                            HON. BART STUPAK

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 29, 2006

  Mr. STUPAK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an educator in my 
district who has done laudable work to ignite a new sense of patriotism 
among his students.
  Mr. Gerald (Jerry) Belanger serves as the principal of Gaylord Middle 
School. He has led a distinguished career in education. Mr. Belanger's 
first job in the field was as a school teacher in a preschool 
classroom. While his stint as a preschool teacher was short lived--
lasting only 3 weeks--he was at least admired by his students for his 
guitar-playing ability.
  Mr. Belanger then moved into a direction better suited to his 
abilities. He taught 6th grade for 5 years at Pearson Elementary School 
in inner city Flint before becoming the assistant principal and 
ultimately the principal of Gaylord Middle School.
  It was at Gaylord Middle School that he began the current middle 
school Veteran's Day program. For the past 10 years, on every Veteran's 
Day, the Gaylord Middle School and its student council have organized a 
tribute to America's veterans. The day begins with a morning reception 
in the school cafeteria, followed by a program in the school gymnasium 
where students and faculty honor the sacrifices of America's veterans. 
Mr. Belanger has worked hard to ensure that veterans in the community 
attend the event so that his students have an in person opportunity to 
demonstrate their appreciation for veterans' sacrifice. When the 
tribute began 10 years ago, 20 veterans participated. Today, as many as 
200 veterans attend the Veteran's Day event. By encouraging his 
students to host this tribute, Mr. Belanger has helped draw the Gaylord 
community together, while also helping to inspire patriotism in each 
class of students that passes through Gaylord Middle School.
  Mr. Belanger also makes patriotism a daily priority at Gaylord Middle 
School. Through the daily Pledge of Allegiance, playing of the national 
anthem and events throughout the year, Mr. Belanger has worked to 
instill respect, love and loyalty to our country among the young people 
attending his school.
  Mr. Belanger is a fine example of how ordinary citizens can 
demonstrate exceptional patriotism in their community. Although Jerry 
never served in the armed forces, his father, Frank, served in the 
National Guard during the Cuban Missile Crisis and two of his uncles 
were in the Army Reserve during that difficult part of our Nation's 
history. Another of Mr. Belanger's uncles served with U.S. Marine Corps 
for 4 years. These family members instilled in him a deep love of 
history and government and a profound sense of pride and respect for 
all of our nation's military men and women.
  Now that he is married with a 3-year-old son, you will often see 
Jerry with his son Patrick at local Memorial Day and Veterans Day 
celebrations, seeking to pass on to his own son the same pride and deep 
respect for the armed forces and the same love of country.
  Mr. Speaker, as our brave men and women serve abroad in today's 
conflicts, all of us are reminded of the importance of recognizing, 
honoring and remembering the sacrifices of the heroes of the past. Mr. 
Jerry Belanger has found a way to ensure that in his corner of the 
world, young people are introduced to these important values early on. 
For that, Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and the U.S. House of 
Representatives join me in saluting him.

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