[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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