[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 181 (Thursday, November 15, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S7046]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO JOAN MIDDLETON

  Mr. MERKLEY. Mr. President, today, we honor and celebrate Joan 
Middleton's commendable service to the Senate Employees' Child Care 
Center. On September 30, 2018, Ms. Middleton retired from the Center, 
where she worked as a floater assistant teacher for no less than 32 
years. She was an admired and respected member of the Senate Employees' 
Child Care Center Team, her devotion to which was only rivaled by her 
love for the Washington Redskins.
  Ms. Middleton carried important responsibilities at the center, 
including regularly assisting in each and every classroom, as well as 
supervising and closing the center each evening. She not only took 
these responsibilities seriously, but went well beyond the essential 
tasks of her post. Her deep care for the community was palpable, as was 
evidenced by her consistent, inclusive, and thoughtful leadership.
  Without a doubt, Ms. Middleton played an integral role in each 
student and faculty member's day. For the students, she prepared snacks 
and lunches every day. All faculty went to her for anything from a 
ballpoint pen to a safety pin, garnering her the name ``Ms. Resource'' 
among her colleagues. Whenever anyone had forgotten where to find 
something or where it belonged, Ms. Middleton knew.
  For over three decades, Ms. Middleton was a compassionate adviser who 
shared her wisdom with the many faculty members she took the time to 
mentor. While her invaluable institutional knowledge will be missed in 
her absence, her kind, diligent commitment to the center will live on 
through those members she guided throughout her tenure. The Senate 
Employees' Child Care center is deeply grateful for Ms. Middleton for 
all the positive ways she shaped the Center and enriched the lives of 
its students over these past 32 years.

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