[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 97 (Tuesday, June 11, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H4394-H4395]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING JANIE L. MINES

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
South Carolina (Mr. Norman) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. NORMAN. Mr. Speaker, today, I would like to recognize one of the 
most accomplished constituents in the Fifth District of South Carolina.
  Janie L. Mines, who lives in Fort Mill, encompasses what it means to 
serve and honor one's country. In 1975, after the United States 
Congress authorized the entrance of women into our first-rate military 
service academies, Janie soon applied to enter the United States Naval 
Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.
  Out of 81 women who entered the academy in 1976, Ms. Mines was the 
first and only Black woman to graduate from her class and the first 
ever Black woman to graduate from the United States Naval Academy as a 
whole.
  After her departure from the academy with the rank of ensign and a 
bachelor of science in engineering, Ms. Mines was trained as a supply 
officer and became a supervisor at the former Naval Training Center in 
Orlando, Florida. She proceeded to serve in the former Naval Annex at 
the Pentagon, aboard the USS Emory S. Land, and as a senior adviser to 
the Secretary of the Navy. In fact, she has continued her work in the 
Armed Forces on the Defense Advisory Committee on Women.
  Her exceptional accomplishments include being granted the position of 
torchbearer for the 2002 Olympic Games, starting a foundation that 
tends to the needs of socioeconomically disadvantaged boys, and being 
honored by the United States Navy with a business achievement award in 
2010.
  In 2018, Ms. Mines wrote and published the book ``No Coincidences: 
Reflections of the First Black Female Graduate of the United States 
Naval Academy.'' In it, she shows us the true meaning of faith, 
patriotism, and persistence. We can all learn from her story and her 
deep love of this country.
  I will end with a quote from her book: ``God has a plan for us all. 
If we submit to His will, we need not fear. We are prepared and 
protected.''
  We thank Ms. Mines for her continued service to this great country.


                   Honoring Southside Fire Department

  Mr. NORMAN. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise in honor of the 50th 
anniversary of the Southside Fire Department on March 19.
  The fully volunteer fire department has protected the people and 
property of Union County since 1974 when the first call rang. The 
station has grown from as little as five calls a year to 98 calls in 
2018 alone.
  The foundation of Southside Fire Department was a community effort. 
The seed was planted in 1969 when a meeting was held at Roper Chevrolet 
to hear the public's opinion on the organization of a fire district for 
the local area in Union County.
  However, it was not until 1972 that Southside received its first 
truck and could finally open its station. Supported by the local 
community's generosity, the fire department established itself and 
eventually joined South Carolina's Firefighters Association.
  For almost 50 years now, Southside Volunteer Fire Department has 
fought fires to protect the great folks in the district. The station 
currently has an ISO Class 3/9 rating and serves over 3,500 residents.
  As a Nation, we ask much of our citizens. Yet, even on top of the 
burdens and the toil of everyday life, some

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choose to volunteer to save the lives and property of their neighbors. 
With nothing to gain and everything to lose, they head straight toward 
danger.
  I congratulate the fire chief, Michael Lancaster, and the rest of the 
crew at Southside Fire Department on this incredible milestone. We 
thank them for their tireless, continued service to our community and 
our great Nation.

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