[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 14 (Tuesday, January 29, 2008)]
[House]
[Page H544]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1930
           HONORING HELEN GANNON GINGREY ON HER 90TH BIRTHDAY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Gingrey) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. GINGREY. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take time this evening to 
address the House of Representatives regarding a very important person, 
someone who has meant so much to me throughout my life. My mother, Ms. 
Helen Gingrey, turns 90 years old February 8, 2008.
  Mr. Speaker, I know that you and Members of the House of 
Representatives will want to join me tonight in saying ``Happy 90th 
birthday, Mom.''
  It's important in this day and age for children to grow up in a 
strong family environment like the one that my parents provided for me. 
And I would hope that throughout my tenure here representing the 11th 
Congressional District of Georgia that I'll always be aware of how my 
actions will affect the American families who are, after all, the 
backbone of this Nation.
  My mother has had a great life, and she's been a blessing to both her 
community and to her family. She is the daughter of Irish and Scotch 
immigrants, John Gannon and Ellen Heron. She was born in New York City 
in 1918, where she grew up with her three sisters, Peggy, Mary and 
Catherine, and brother, Dan. Raised in Manhattan, she met and, after a 
10-month courtship, she married my dad when she was 20 years old.
  James Franklin Gingrey was a native of Aiken County, South Carolina. 
He and his two brothers and a sister, struggled in childhood after 
their mother died in childbirth at age 25. Dad came to New York at age 
16 and near poverty with little means of support. God did not bless him 
with material things, but allowed him, by pure chance, to meet the love 
of his life, Helen Cecelia Gannon, my mom. Jimmy and Helen became 
husband and wife in 1938, and they remained together for 44 years until 
his death.
  After Dad finished high school in the New York City Night program, my 
parents, with a 1-year-old son, William, Bill, my brother, moved back 
to South Carolina and settled in Edgefield. Soon the family unit grew 
to five, as my brother James and I were born in nearby Augusta, 
Georgia.
  My dad left this world 28 years ago having worked side by side with 
my mom in a number of labor-intensive small businesses. These included, 
Mr. Speaker, a used car lot, a curb service drive-in restaurant, a 
package shop, and finally a ``Mom and Pop'' motel. They never had a 
chance to attend college, but by the sweat of their brow, they gave 
that opportunity to their three sons. To my knowledge, there were no 
welfare checks, food stamps or Medicaid program to lighten their load.
  Mr. Speaker, as I honor my mother today, I want to thank her for a 
loving parenthood and for instilling in my brothers and me the 
principles of hard work, good education, personal responsibility, 
respect for the diversity of others, love of family, love of country 
but, most important, love of God. These are not only excellent 
principles for rearing children, Mr. Speaker, but also a good recipe 
for the initiatives we continue to work on here in the 110th Congress.
  Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I urge the House to use the examples of Helen 
Cecelia Gannon Gingrey and all wonderful mothers like her to set an 
agenda that emphasizes and supports our Nation's greatest treasure, the 
American family.

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