[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 178 (Wednesday, December 9, 2015)]
[House]
[Page H9088]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              HOLY ANGELS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
North Carolina (Mr. McHenry) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. McHENRY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize two fine 
institutions in my home community that I grew up in: Gaston County, 
North Carolina. I grew up in that community and spent most of my life 
living in Gaston County, and there is an incredible story.
  Beginning in 1955, a newborn baby named Maria Morrow was brought to 
the Sisters of Mercy's motherhouse in Belmont, North Carolina.

                              {time}  1045

  Maria was born with severe physical disabilities, and her mother was 
overwhelmed and unable to care for her. The Sisters of Mercy nuns took 
Maria in, and, thus, Holy Angels was born.
  As word about Maria spread throughout the community, State--and 
country, in fact--more children with special needs began arriving at 
Holy Angels. As each new child arrived, the Sisters of Mercy worked to 
meet their needs. Funds were raised, and the necessary facilities were 
built. Over time, more professional nursing and medical staff were 
hired. Today, Holy Angels provides full-time resident care as well as 
physical therapy, day programs, and vocational programs through their 
Cherubs Cafe and Life Choices locations.
  Holy Angels' CEO, Dr. Regina Moody, and her dedicated team of 
professionals continue to fulfill the promise that the Sisters of Mercy 
made when they took Maria in 60 years ago. That promise is now 
enshrined in Holy Angels' motto: Loving, living, and learning for the 
differently able.
  Holy Angels has been serving those in need for 60 years, and their 
timeless spirit will be around forever in the families they have 
touched, in the lives they have touched, and in how they have helped 
shape our community in Gaston County. I honor Holy Angels, and I thank 
them for their service, not just for those people in their midst for 
whom they are providing care, but for what they mean to our community.


                            Tony's Ice Cream

  Mr. McHENRY. Mr. Speaker, we also hear stories of small businesses 
being around for 10 or 20 or 30 years, and it is amazing, in and of 
itself, that a small business can survive that long. In my hometown of 
Gastonia, North Carolina, Tony's Ice Cream has been a landmark for over 
100 years. In fact, this year marks its 100th anniversary.
  In 1915, an Italian immigrant named Carmine Coletta began Tony's as a 
horse-drawn wagon that served ice cream to those in Gastonia's Loray 
Mill Village. Eventually, the first store was opened and took the name 
``Tony's'' in honor of Carmine's brother-in-law, who managed the store. 
The current location was built in the 1930s and now is run by Carmine 
Coletta's grandson and his children. Generations of Gaston County 
kids--me included--have grown up knowing there is no better milkshake 
than one from Tony's. In fact, my favorite is chocolate.
  To the Coletta family, I thank them for their service to our 
community. Really, building an enduring institution for a century is 
such a significant achievement, especially given the challenges that we 
face as a country and with the economy. They have meant a lot to their 
employees. They have also meant so much to generations of children, 
like me and so many others, in what they have provided.
  I thank the Coletta family, and I honor them on their 100th 
anniversary. I also thank Holy Angels, on their 60th anniversary, for 
their significant contribution.
  Mr. Speaker, it is an amazing place in which to grow up, Gaston 
County. It has such great values and also wonderful institutions there 
that I learned so much from as a child, growing up there with my two 
brothers and two sisters and my parents, from whom I learned so much. 
So I take this moment to recognize these fine institutions in Gaston 
County.

                          ____________________