[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 96 (Wednesday, June 24, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1564]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         HONORING THE JUNIOR MATRONS OF MORRISTOWN, NEW JERSEY

                                 ______
                                 

                      HON. RODNEY P. FRELINGHUYSEN

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 24, 2009

  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the Junior 
Matrons of Morristown, New Jersey who are celebrating their 50 
Anniversary this year.
  The Junior Matrons of Morristown was started in 1959 by a motivated 
group of young African American women. They concentrated their time and 
energy on addressing the lack of young African American high school 
graduates pursuing post secondary education. For the past 50 years the 
Junior Matrons have focused on fulfilling their motto, ``Service 
through Scholarship''. This has been done through providing financial 
assistance to over 3,000 high school students, totaling over $2 million 
over the past half century. The beneficial and residual impact of this 
assistance cannot be over-estimated.
  The Junior Matrons sponsor an annual Graduation Ball and Cotillion. 
The purpose of this night is threefold. First, it helps to raise 
awareness among the African American community about how a college 
education can provide an avenue to economic, political and social 
advantage. Second, it recognizes and rewards those who have been 
committed to achieving their first major educational milestone. And 
finally, it generates the funds necessary for a high school graduate's 
dream of college to become a reality. This single evening can be summed 
up in a statement that these women pride themselves on, ``There were a 
lot of things we didn't know were impossible so we just went ahead and 
did them.''
  The passion and energy behind the founding of the Junior Matrons has 
continued unabated for these last 50 years, and is a credit to the 
collective vision of twelve charter members: the late Sue Graddick, 
Harriet Britt, the late Frances Younginer, my dear friend Dr. Felicia 
B. Jamison, Emma L. Martin, Mattile Drew, Muriel Hiller, Nadine Alston, 
the late Emanualine Smith, Natalie Holmes, the late Marie Davis, the 
late Natalie Thurmond Lattimore and Cecelia Dowdy.
  Over the years the Junior Matrons have been honored by the National 
Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the National 
Urban League, among many others. Although a few of the original group 
are no longer with us, new leaders have taken on the mantle and are 
endowed with the same zeal and vision.
  Madam Speaker, I am quite certain that the Junior Matrons will 
continue to promote the cause quality education and help provide 
opportunities for our young people to pursue college degrees and 
productive, fulfilling careers. I ask you and my colleagues to join me 
in congratulating the Junior Matrons of Morristown as they celebrate 50 
dedicated years of serving our community.

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