[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 109 (Monday, July 14, 2014)]
[House]
[Pages H6154-H6155]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
ELIZABETH L. KINNUNEN POST OFFICE BUILDING
Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill
(H.R. 2223) to designate the facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 220 Elm Avenue in Munising, Michigan, as the
``Elizabeth L. Kinnunen Post Office Building''.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 2223
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. ELIZABETH L. KINNUNEN POST OFFICE BUILDING.
(a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 220 Elm Avenue in Munising, Michigan,
shall be known and designated as the ``Elizabeth L. Kinnunen
Post Office Building''.
(b) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation,
document, paper, or other record of the United States to the
facility referred to in subsection (a) shall be deemed to be
a reference to the ``Elizabeth L. Kinnunen Post Office
Building''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Arizona (Mr. Gosar) and the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cummings) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arizona.
General Leave
Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks
and to include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Arizona?
There was no objection.
Mr. GOSAR. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2223, introduced by my colleague Representative Dan
Benishek of Michigan, would designate the facility of the United States
Postal Service located at 220 Elm Avenue in Munising, Michigan, as the
Elizabeth L. Kinnunen Post Office.
Elizabeth Kinnunen emigrated from Finland to the United States in
1903. She operated a boarding house in Marquette, Michigan, with her
husband and had 11 children.
During her life, Mrs. Kinnunen endured a devastating and unfathomable
loss: two of her sons died while in service to our country. Her son
Eiso was killed at the Battle of the Bulge in 1945, and her son Raymond
was killed in Korea in 1952.
Mrs. Kinnunen passed away in 1974. Mrs. Kinnunen's sacrifice and the
sacrifice of thousands of others just like her and their continued
perseverance illustrate the courage and indomitability of the American
spirit.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to join my colleagues in the
consideration of H.R. 2223, a bill to designate the facility of the
United States Postal Service located at 220 Elm Avenue in Munising,
Michigan, as the Elizabeth L. Kinnunen Post Office Building.
Elizabeth Kinnunen came to the United States from Finland in 1903
with hopes of a better life. After marrying Oscar Kinnunen in 1909,
Elizabeth worked alongside her husband to
[[Page H6155]]
run a boarding home for timber and mining workers in Marquette,
Michigan. Eventually, Elizabeth, Oscar, and their 11 children moved to
Munising, Michigan, where they continued to work tirelessly so that
each of their children could achieve the American Dream.
Ms. Kinnunen made many sacrifices on behalf of her children, and two
of her beloved sons made the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of our great
country. Eiso Kinnunen was killed in action in the Battle of the Bulge
in 1945; and shortly thereafter, in 1952, Ms. Kinnunen became a two
Gold Star Mother, when Raymond Kinnunen lost his life in the Korean
war.
It is difficult to fathom, Mr. Speaker, the devastating losses Ms.
Kinnunen endured, but we can honor her hard work, her dedication, and
her sacrifices by naming this post office in her honor.
With that, Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to vote in favor
of this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to the
distinguished gentleman from the State of Michigan (Mr. Benishek).
Mr. BENISHEK. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues from Maryland and
Arizona for bringing this bill to the floor.
I rise today in support of H.R. 2223, a bill to name the post office
building in Munising, Michigan, after the late Mrs. Elizabeth Kinnunen.
Born in 1893, the former Elizabeth Lempi Paasto immigrated to our
country from Finland in 1903. She came, like many in northern Michigan
and throughout our great land, for freedom and opportunity and for a
chance at the American Dream. She married Oscar Kinnunen in 1909.
Together, they had 11 children.
To provide for their family, Mr. and Mrs. Kinnunen operated a
boarding house in Marquette, Michigan. They provided lodging to timber
and mining workers in Marquette County. Eventually, they moved to
Munising, Michigan, where Oscar worked for the paper company and
Elizabeth worked as a local cook. Mrs. Kinnunen continued to work to
support her family after Oscar died in 1952 and was a faithful member
of the Messiah Lutheran Church in Munising.
Mrs. Kinnunen's life was, unfortunately, marked by tragedy in two
great wars that defined this country. Two of her sons, Eiso and
Raymond, were killed overseas defending the American people and our
freedom. Eiso was killed in action during the Battle of the Bulge in
1945, and Raymond lost his life in Korea in 1952. We will never know
the devastating grief their family must have suffered after such an
enormous loss. We will also never be able to fathom the somber dignity
Mrs. Kinnunen must have felt, in the words of President Lincoln, ``to
have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of freedom.''
Mrs. Kinnunen died on April 5, 1974, at the age of 81. While Mrs.
Kinnunen is not a household name, her hard work to provide for her
family and the terrible sacrifices she and her family endured, much
like many throughout our country, form an important part of our
history. Naming this post office in her honor is a thoughtful and
lasting way for the community of Munising to celebrate her life and
accomplishments.
The City of Munising, the Alger County Board of Commissioners, and
the American Legion Post 131 in Munising have worked for years to honor
Mrs. Kinnunen by renaming this post office in her name. It is my honor
to represent the citizens of northern Michigan today who have worked so
hard to recognize the sacrifices Mrs. Kinnunen made for love of family
and country.
I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support the passage of
H.R. 2223, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Gosar) that the House suspend the rules and
pass the bill, H.R. 2223.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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