[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 40 (Wednesday, March 7, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H1468-H1469]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RECOGNIZING ROME ELKS LODGE #96
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Fitzpatrick). Under the Speaker's
announced policy of January 3, 2017, the gentlewoman from New York (Ms.
Tenney) is recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the majority
leader.
Ms. TENNEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Rome Elks.
Hailing from Rome Elks Lodge #96 on Liberty Street, our hometown Elks
truly embody the mission the Elks National Foundation has been
committed to for over 140 years. For generations, Elks around the
Nation have dedicated themselves to building strong communities and
lending a helping hand to their fellow neighbors.
Today I would like to recognize an outstanding group of hometown Elks
who have made the journey from Oneida County to visit us here in
Washington: Donna Townsend; Whitney Cook; Mary Bielby; and retired
captain of the Rome Police Department, John Bielby.
Our Elks in Rome and around the country help our youth develop
lifelong skills, assist students who are attending college, support
charitable work in their communities, and care for our local veterans.
However, Rome Elks are unique to all other Elks in the country. In
addition to the honorable work of the Elks, Rome Elks also carry out
the longstanding tradition of caring for the gravesite of a historic
Rome native, Sir Francis Bellamy. Some of you may not know it, but Sir
Francis Bellamy is the author of our uniquely American tradition, the
Pledge of Allegiance.
Francis Bellamy was born in Mount Morris, New York, attended our Rome
public schools, and graduated from Rome Free Academy, affectionately
known as RFA, in 1872.
Every day throughout our country, in public and parochial schools; at
Boy Scout and Girl Scout meetings; at American Legions and all
fraternal and patriotic organizations; in government, including here in
our Nation's Capitol, millions of Americans recite the Pledge of
Allegiance.
The Pledge of Allegiance reminds our citizenry of the notion of what
it means to be American. We pledge allegiance to this great experiment;
to our constitutional Republic, a nation that reveres freedoms,
individual rights, and liberty. We pledge allegiance to our country's
historic Judeo-Christian values.
Bellamy wrote the Pledge of Allegiance in 1892 at the age of 37.
During his time working as a writer for a magazine called ``The Youth's
Companion,'' a family magazine that, at the time, had 500,000
subscribers, Bellamy was tasked with creating a patriotic school
program to honor the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus' arrival
to America. Through this assignment, the Pledge of Allegiance, as we
know it today, took shape.
At a trying time in our Nation's history, Francis Bellamy captured so
elegantly and simply America's unity and loyalty. With only a sentence,
Bellamy ultimately symbolized America's ability to surpass all internal
differences. It is the manifestation of our patriotic conscience and it
is recognized throughout our Nation.
Francis Bellamy's spirit pervades in Rome to this day, especially
during patriotic holidays, like Flag Day. On Flag Day, the Rome Elks
replace the two American flags that fly over Sir Francis Bellamy's
gravesite. These annual ceremonies are a dedication to the patriotic
principles that our flag has stood for since it was first adopted in
1777. In 2008, the Rome Elks started a significant renovation project
on Bellamy's gravesite, and completed it 1 year later, just in time to
rededicate it for Flag Day.
In addition to their work in honoring Sir Francis Bellamy and the
American flag, the Rome Elks are also well known for their commitment
to helping our local veterans.
Recently, the Rome Elks held a fundraiser to raise money for therapy
dogs for veterans through a local organization called Clear Path for
Vets. As part of the fundraiser, the Rome Elks took flags that had
flown over Sir Francis Bellamy's gravesite and removed the stars and
stripes. They then individually separated and added a slip of paper
with the words ``This little star is proud to say I flew over Bellamy's
grave.'' The Rome Elks call this project ``Stars Over Bellamy.''
They started with 300 of these little packets, but quickly added 200
more when they realized how popular this projects was. To date, the
Rome Elks have raised over $1,000 for this fundraising effort. One of
the most touching aspects is that every veteran that a Rome Elks member
comes across receives one of these stars for free as a thank-you for
their years of service.
I was lucky enough to be able to purchase a star for myself and a few
others for my son, who is currently serving in the Marine Corps. It is
a constant reminder for me of the legacy Francis Bellamy left for our
country, as well as the patriotic principles I as a member of the Ilion
Elks Lodge #1444--a nearby Elks Lodge down the street--have come to
live by.
These are just a few examples of the hard work and devotion that the
Rome Elks show for their community. The Rome Elks bring so much more to
the community than just a building. Although it is a beautiful,
historic building on Liberty Street--aptly named--in Rome, New York,
they invest in programs that help children grow up healthy and drug-
free, meet the needs of today's veterans, and improve the quality of
life for our area.
As I mentioned, as a member of the nearby Ilion Elks Lodge #1444, I
am proud to know and work with so many outstanding Elks and members
throughout our region. I also am excited to participate in our
benevolent Elks Lodge, which has a motorcycle ride each year, where we
travel to each of the Elks Lodges and raise money for charities that
help many of our veterans in need.
So I just want to say, if you happen to be visiting our region, take
the time to stop by one of our wonderful Elks Lodges. They have weekly
events. Particularly in the Rome Elks Lodge, they have Tuesday Wing
Night, Wednesday Night Spaghetti Supper, Fish Fry Friday, or one of our
special events on the weekends or holidays. It is really a beautiful
and wonderful time to meet and have fellowship with a community that is
so patriotic and so devoted to our Nation.
Today I urge all my colleagues and anyone watching at home to thank
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Elks Lodges from around our Nation for the tremendous work they do for
our communities, especially our veterans. Or, better yet, take the
opportunity to volunteer at an Elks Lodge or consider joining an Elks
Lodge. They do so much great benevolent work for our communities.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
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