[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 77 (Wednesday, May 21, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E801]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          HONORING KEVIN BAKER

                                  _____
                                 

                            HON. BILLY LONG

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 21, 2014

  Mr. LONG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor Kevin 
Baker, an American History teacher from Springfield, Missouri, who led 
his 30th annual school trip to Washington, D.C., this spring.
  On March 11, 2014, Kevin completed his 30th school trip to Washington 
with a group of nearly 100 students from Pershing Middle School in 
Springfield, Missouri. While in Washington, the students visited the 
Capitol, Library of Congress, Smithsonian museums, and the many 
monuments along the National Mall celebrating our heritage.
  It is no easy task to plan and coordinate a trip involving such a 
large number of students and parents, but the support of the 
Springfield community helps make these trips a continued success, 
including the help of Anne Lanzilotta, the group's tour guide for the 
last 28 years, and his fellow teachers Scott Corn and Cale McAninch who 
have assisted him on the annual trips for the last 15 years.
  Kevin's passion for American history runs through his family. His 
wife Valerie and two sons Tristan and Trevor have attended multiple 
trips and not only encourage his efforts, they enjoy them. Kevin 
continues the tour of the capital because he wants all of his students 
to experience the history of our country through the monuments, 
museums, and memorials, as well as to share that love for country, that 
awestruck feeling he received every time he traveled to Washington. He 
credits his work ethic to the examples set by his parents, Luther and 
Joyce, and the support he received growing up from his younger brother 
Dwight.
  Kevin hopes that these annual trips will motivate or inspire some of 
his young students to return to Washington as elected officials and 
embrace new ideas for the future of our great nation. He credits the 
Springfield community for making so many of these trips possible. The 
education of a child is a once in a lifetime experience, and the 
immersion into our history and political process makes the efforts well 
worth it.

                          ____________________