[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 7 (Friday, January 12, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E87]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING THE CITY OF ELYRIA DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY OF SERVICE

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                           HON. BETTY SUTTON

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, January 12, 2007

  Ms. SUTTON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the Elyria 
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service celebrated annually for the 
past 21 years. The city of Elyria, located in beautiful Lorain County, 
OH, has presented an award to the individual or group who best 
exemplified Dr. King's ideals of freedom, justice and opportunity.
  Heman Ely founded Elyria, situated at the forks of the Black River, 
in 1817. The name Elyria came partially from Ely's own name and from 
his deep interest in the Austrian province of Illyria, which he visited 
in 1809 after its conquest by Napoleon. Elyria has enjoyed an 
illustrious history and has been home to a wide range of former 
residents.
  In 1907, Elyria resident and businessperson Edgar Allen began raising 
money for a new local hospital in response to the tragic loss of his 
son in a streetcar accident. Allen was appalled at the lack of adequate 
services for special needs children so he sold his business and began 
raising money for a new local hospital. This fundraising culminated in 
the creation of Easter Seals organization in 1919. Other notable Elyria 
residents include current NFL quarterback Tim Rattay and the authors 
Sherwood Anderson and Robert Erwin Lee. With a wide-ranging history 
such as this, it is only natural for Elyria to celebrate the ideals of 
Dr. King.
  All Americans know of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s stature as a 
national hero. From his celebrated ``Letter from Birmingham Jail'' to 
his organization of the Montgomery Bus Boycott, Dr. King demonstrated 
that eloquent words followed with significant action could affect 
social change without resorting to violence. His ``I Have a Dream'' 
speech movingly spelled out his dream of racial equality and propelled 
the issue to the forefront of national consciousness.
  In closing, I commend the City of Elyria and all the organizations 
that have spent countless hours organizing this celebration honoring 
Dr. King's birthday. These awards are given annually to recognize 
service and achievement of persons who live or work in the City of 
Elyria in areas consistent with the teachings and example of Dr. King. 
His dedication to racial, social and economic justice is a model that 
the world should emulate now more than ever and this is why I 
enthusiastically support this award.

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