[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 135 (Tuesday, September 13, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1611]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     COMMENDING MRS. RUTH BROUSSARD

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. RODNEY ALEXANDER

                              of louisiana

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 13, 2011

  Mr. ALEXANDER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate and honor a 
true living legend. This September, Mrs. Ruth Broussard will be honored 
by her induction into the ``Order of Living Legends.'' Mrs. Broussard's 
dedication to the Acadian Museum, her town of Abbeville, Vermillion 
Parish, and the Acadian community as a whole make her deserving of this 
recognition.
  After the completion of Mrs. Broussard's Bachelor of Arts degree from 
Louisiana State University, she began her career as an educator in Lake 
Charles before returning to her birth town of Kaplan, La. Upon her 
return to Kaplan she became an active member of her community by 
joining the La Clique D' Etud where she organized many fundraising 
drives to help raise money for cancer research, and by forming the 
first Girl Scout Troop. Shortly after marrying her late husband, Justin 
John Broussard in 1941, he joined the U.S. Coast Guard and they were 
briefly relocated to Galveston, Texas while he served his country. Upon 
their return to the state they so dearly loved, they made their new 
home in Abbeville, La. where they raised 3 children, Jay, Rebecca, and 
Eric. It did not take long for Mrs. Broussard to once again become an 
active part of her community. Over the years she has played an 
important role in many local organizations throughout the Acadian 
region, such as the Vermillion Historical Society, which reflects her 
love for history and the history surrounding South La., serving as 
chairman of the Executive Committee for the Acadian Museum, her 
founding role of the Abbeville Tour Guides, a member of the St. Anne 
Alter Society, her involvement with the historic St. Mary Magdalen 
Catholic Church that she loves so much, and is a member of the 
Abbeville Arts Council, as well as being a very talented artist in her 
own right. In addition to her numerous roles of community service, she 
continued teaching elementary students for 18 years at Eaton Park 
Elementary. Mrs. Broussard's strong belief and value of education 
continues to be evident as she recently, at the young age of 93, began 
taking continuing education classes at the University of Louisiana-
Lafayette.
  Altruistic service and commitment to one's community like Mrs. 
Broussard's are what make our Bayou State's rich history transparent. 
The love for her culture and region has created a lifelong passion for 
service to her community and state. I ask my colleagues to join me in 
passing good wishes to a true living legend, Mrs. Ruth Broussard.

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