[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 91 (Wednesday, June 4, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1140]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E1140]]
                HONORING THE MEMORY OF MARGARET BENJAMIN

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. KEVIN BRADY

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 4, 2008

  Mr. BRADY of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory 
of Margaret Benjamin, who died on August 15, 2007 at the age of 93.
  Living a life that spanned most of the 20th century, Margaret 
Montgomery was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, to Robert Montgomery, a 
veteran of the Spanish-American War, and his wife, Agnes Stern 
Montgomery. But her parents did not live to see her and her younger 
sister, Roberta, grow up, as they passed away when Margaret was only 
13. Being orphans in the years leading up to the Stock Market Crash of 
1929 was hard enough, but in the Depression that followed, it could 
have been ruinous were it not for the girls' father having supported 
the Junior OUAM National Orphans Home in Tiffin, Ohio, where they were 
sent to live.
  Growing up without parents and feeling responsible for her younger 
sister gave Margaret a mission in life based on community service and 
caring for others without ever feeling sorry for herself. Reaching her 
prime in an era when women did not generally work outside the home, 
Margaret took on numerous volunteer activities. Not the glamorous, 
fundraising kind, but the ones where she saw a need and stepped in to 
fill it. These included helping to organize a volunteer ambulance corps 
in the town where she lived but where the nearest hospital was far 
away. Later, she volunteered at a nearby state mental hospital, working 
one-on-one with patients struggling to overcome addiction to drugs and 
alcohol.
  Her volunteer activities also included helping her husband, Roy, in 
his successful political career. She loved the heat of battle in 
campaigns, seething with passion underneath the veneer of cool 
professionalism. By the time he was ready to retire from politics, she 
had become so good at identifying issues, communicating with 
constituents, driving change, and embodying commitment to public 
service, that she was asked to run for office in her own right. And she 
won. Even in retirement, Margaret stayed active in politics. At the age 
of 86, she managed her son-in-law's successful campaign for local 
office, showing up at the polls and chasing down voters with the 
assistance of her walker. Despite old age and failing health, she loved 
Election Day and treasured the freedom that the privilege to vote 
entailed.
  Until the last year of her life, Margaret was active in volunteer 
activities related to her lifelong passion for music. She sang in the 
Woodlands Sweethearts chorus, making appearances at local events and 
nursing homes so that others could be touched by the music that was a 
constant source of inspiration and comfort in her life.
  Indeed, she passed peacefully from this earth while listening to the 
music of J.S. Bach that she always found so calming and inspiring.
  I had the privilege to know Margaret in her retirement years when she 
moved to Texas to be closer to her daughter. One of her last endeavors 
was helping my staff to organize a Social Security workshop at the 
senior citizens housing complex where she lived. To the end of her 
life, Margaret encouraged people to participate in government, to let 
officials like me know their thoughts, and to be accountable. We could 
do worse than to follow her motto formed in the crucible of politics, 
``just be gracious, no matter what.''
  Madam Speaker, it is the dedication, faith, and commitment of 
individuals such as Margaret Benjamin who make our country strong and 
who bring out the best in our communities. Thank you for the 
opportunity to recall her spirit and her service.

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