[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 45 (Thursday, March 31, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E579-E580]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           MELISSA HOWLAND NAMED A MILITARY CHILD OF THE YEAR

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                           HON. BARNEY FRANK

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 31, 2011

  Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, I was very pleased earlier 
this month to receive a notice from Operation Homefront that Melissa 
Howland of Millis, Massachusetts, was named one of five recipients of 
the 2011 Military Child of the Year Award. Ms. Howland

[[Page E580]]

and the other four winners will be presented with their awards next 
week, April 7, at a ceremony in Pentagon City. I regret very much that 
a previously scheduled engagement will have me on a plane to 
Massachusetts at the time of the award, but this is something of which 
Ms. Howland and her parents are entitled to be very proud, and I want 
to take the opportunity to note this here in the Record, both as a 
tribute to Ms. Howland, and as a tribute to Operation Homefront and the 
great work they do in reminding all of us of the continuing obligations 
we have in so many ways to the men and women of the U.S. Military.
  Melissa Howland's father was sent to Iraq by our country in 2009, and 
he was in California without his family in 2007 and 2008. Ms. Howland 
has a blood disorder that leads to her immune system attacking the 
platelets in her blood, and this has required hospitalization to 
protect her from excessive bleeding. The dedication of the Howland 
family to our country and to each other is extraordinary, and I salute 
them and I salute Operation Homefront for this recognition of Melissa 
Howland and other students.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that the statement from Operation Homefront, 
describing the work that Melissa Howland has done and is doing, be 
printed here as an inspiration to others and as a chance for us to 
express our admiration and gratitude to the Howland family.

  Millis Student Receives 2011 Military Child of the Year' 
                                 Award

       San Antonio, Texas--Operation Homefront today announced the 
     five recipients of the 2011 Military Child of the 
     Year' Award. The Navy recipient for this award is 
     Melissa Howland, a 17-year-old 12th grader from Millis, 
     Massachusetts.
       The winners were chosen by a committee including active 
     duty military personnel, Family Readiness Support Assistants, 
     teachers, military mothers, and community members. Melissa 
     will receive $5,000 and will be flown with a parent or 
     guardian to Washington, D.C. for a special recognition 
     ceremony on April 7, 2011.
       ``The sons and daughters of America's service members learn 
     what patriotism is at a very young age,'' said Jim Knotts, 
     President & CEO of Operation Homefront. ``Children in 
     military families demonstrate leadership within their 
     families and within their communities. This is what the 
     Military Child of the Year' Award honors.''
       Every Sunday, Melissa volunteers in the local hospital's 
     maternity ward. It's the least she could do after doctors 
     saved her life. Melissa suffers from a blood disorder that 
     allows her immune system to attack the platelets in her 
     blood. Without platelets her blood cannot clot and she could 
     quickly bleed to death. As she was treated, Melissa was 
     hospitalized several times when experimental treatments 
     failed to work. Her father was deployed to Iraq in 2009 and 
     stationed, unaccompanied, in California in 2007 and 2008. 
     Still, Melissa managed to keep up her spirit and her grades. 
     The diagnosis meant Melissa could no longer participate in 
     the sports she loved, basketball and running. Instead, she 
     turned her sights to community service. In 2010, Melissa 
     donated 498 volunteer hours to 12 causes. Today, she still 
     has to visit the doctor, often, and monitor her disease. But 
     she is thriving and growing every day.

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