[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 129 (Tuesday, July 31, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1111]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING FRANK E. MARRA

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ELIOT L. ENGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 31, 2018

  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate one of my constituents 
who is larger than life itself, Mr. Frank E. Marra. I want to wish you 
the happiest of birthdays as you turn 100, just the latest amazing 
milestone in an amazing life.
  The son of Italian immigrants, Frank, was the first of Arthur 
(Arturo) and Mary's (Carmelina) three sons born in New York City, just 
before the Armistice which ended World War I. Frank attended PS 57 
Theodore Roosevelt High in the Bronx before answering the call to 
service. Frank would join the National Guard for a short period of time 
before enlisting in the U.S. Military in 1941.
  As a member of the U.S. Army's 258th Field Artillery, Frank trained 
for several months in the United Kingdom before his deployment in 
Europe. Frank fought the Axis powers in Normandy, through Northern 
France, Belgium in Ardennes, at the Battle of the Bulge, in 
Lichtenstein, Austria, and Germany. It has been said that Frank was the 
first soldier to fire an artillery shell into Nazi Germany, as our 
forces pushed forward to victory.
  Following WWII, Frank returned home, and married Cecilia Genovese, 
who had sent him care packages during his time in Europe. The two 
honeymooned across the country and settled in San Bruno, California. In 
late 1947, Frank and Cecilia returned to New York, and had their two 
sons, Albert, and Eugene. Frank and Cecilia had a remarkable romance, 
and were married an incredible 70 years, until Cecilia's passing 2 
years ago at the age of 97.
  Mr. Speaker, Frank Marra has lived quite a life. He saw the stock 
market crash of 1929, the resulting Great Depression, and served during 
World War II. He saw the Yankees greats such as Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio 
and Mickey Mantle play baseball, and witnessed the first men walk on 
the moon. He held down two jobs, which allowed him to send both his 
children to college and grad school, and he volunteered for many years 
at St. Bart's Church and the Jewish Home for the Blind. He danced with 
his wife at the weddings of two of his grandchildren and he has held in 
his arms three young great-grandchildren: Margaret, Cecilia, and 
Dominick. Frank Marra has experienced and achieved the American Dream, 
and his distinguished life deserves our honor and recognition. Happy 
birthday Frank, I wish you many more happy and healthy years to come.

                          ____________________