[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 145 (Thursday, September 29, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1729]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      DR. JAMES AND MARY LOU BURNE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. LOU BARLETTA

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 29, 2011

  Mr. BARLETTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Dr. James and Mrs. Mary 
Lou Burne, who will be recognized with the fifth Monsignor McGowan 
Cornerstone Award for their exemplary community service. The selfless 
dedication to the service of others makes the Burnes the ideal 
recipients of an award that highlights the legacy of a truly great 
individual, Monsignor Andrew J. McGowan.
  Dr. James and Mary Lou Burne have dedicated countless hours over the 
span of several decades to ensuring that those in their community who 
are less fortunate are able to have a meal. They have accomplished this 
through the creation of the Family-To-Family Food Basket Program in 
1986. To date, this program has helped provide meals to more than 
300,000 people.
  The Burne Family truly loves its hometown, the City of Scranton, 
Pennsylvania. This is where they have raised their four children, James 
Burne III, Dr. Mark Burne, Mary Burne, and Matthew Burne. It was an 
easy decision for Dr. James and Mary Lou Burne to give back to the 
community that helped to give them so much. Dr. Burne is a member of 
the Scranton Chapter of UNICO National, The Friendly Sons of St. 
Patrick, and the Kiwanis Club. Mrs. Burne is currently vice president 
of The Friends of the Poor and vice president of Lackawanna Pro Bono, 
Inc., and was the founder and director of the local Special Olympics.
  Mr. Speaker, Dr. James and Mary Lou Burne are truly pillars of their 
community in Scranton. I commend them for their decades of committed 
service to their faith, their community, and their country. They will 
surely carry on the spirit of Monsignor McGowan throughout this year 
and the future.

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