[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 132 (Tuesday, December 5, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2075]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     PAYING TRIBUTE TO PHIL WELLAND

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                           HON. JON C. PORTER

                               of nevada

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 5, 2006

  Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Phil Welland for 
his endless kindness to those members of our community who are less 
fortunate.
  Phil spent hours dedicating his life to providing various items to 
charity organizations to help those in need. He sewed blankets, 
handbags, smocks for kindergarten students for finger painting, and 
even some graduation gowns for grade school students.
  Phil was born on March 27, 1913 and worked for 40 years as a 
lithographer for National Can in Maspeth, NY, where he worked as 
supervisor. Under his direction, the company honored a contract to make 
bomb shells and other can items during World War II. In 1988, he and 
his family moved to Las Vegas, Nevada.
  When he was a young man, Phil learned to sew and, from that, his 
passion grew, reaching the lives of hundreds of less fortunate people 
through various charity organizations. After he retired and his wife 
passed away, Phil moved in with his daughter and her family where he 
purchased two separate sewing machines to accomplish his work. He began 
making bags and smocks for young people for Paragon Pools, his son-in-
law, Joe Vassallo's company, which was doing charity work for Street 
Teens at the time. Over the years, he donated at least 500 bags to 
Street Teens. Other charity organizations that he donated his handiwork 
included Child Focus, the Red Cross, the Salvation Army, St. Jude's 
Ranch for Children, CCSD Title 1 HOPE education resource organization 
for homeless students, NECHN Partial Care--a New Jersey hospital 
servicing the mentally challenged--and New Jersey's St. Thomas 
preschool/kindergarten.
  What made Phil's work unique, though, was the tag he placed inside 
each finished product. Each little tag read, ``Made Especially for You 
by Phil Welland.'' He always thought ahead and, even though he recently 
passed away, his final donation of bags and blankets will be this 
Christmas to Child Focus.
  Mr. Speaker, I gladly rise today to honor a selfless citizen who 
dedicated his life to helping others. His warmhearted acts of kindness 
will truly be missed by those he touched.

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