[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 184 (Wednesday, October 20, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1116]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    REMEMBERING MICHELLE LYN PRESENT

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                          HON. STENY H. HOYER

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 20, 2021

  Mr. HOYER. Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to a close friend who 
passed away late last year following a courageous battle against 
cancer.
  Michelle Lyn Present was a young woman blessed with many talents and 
virtues. She possessed an abounding faith, which enabled her to 
persevere through a very long and difficult struggle until her passing 
on December 3, 2020. Not only did she not allow darkness to shadow her 
days, Michelle was a beacon of light that never flickered but always 
shone brightly; indeed, hers was a light that helped to guide others in 
overcoming challenges of their own.
  I came to know Michelle through her parents, Marti and Kenny Cox. 
Kenny was a former member of the District of Columbia Fire Department 
and, for many years, the Vice President of the International 
Association of Fire Fighters Local 26. Michelle's parents instilled in 
her their value of service to others and their love of community and 
country.
  Among her many talents, Michelle was a very gifted singer. She was 
always willing to share her beautiful voice, whether in her church or 
at fire-service events. For many years, she performed at the National 
Fallen Firefighters Memorial Ceremony. At the request of the late Hal 
Bruno, former Chairman of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, 
she would perform the song `Precious Memories.' The sound of her voice 
resonated throughout the gathered assembly of family members and fire-
service officials. It was a voice that I always looked forward to 
hearing each year at the very moving ceremony.
  On behalf of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus leadership, I 
extend my condolences to Michelle's husband Jack and their daughter 
Taylor, to her parents Kenny and Marti, to her brother Ken Jr., and to 
her entire family. In remembrance of a dear friend who was called home 
too early, I would like to share the words from 'Precious Memories' 
with my fellow Members of the House. I hope you will find them as 
uplifting as I did whenever Michelle sang them to the families of 
fallen firefighters and all of us who were there to support them each 
year.

     Precious memories, unseen angels,
     Sent from somewhere to my soul
     How they linger, ever near me,
     And the sacred scenes unfold

     Precious memories, how they linger,
     How they ever flood my soul
     In the stillness of the midnight,
     Precious, sacred scenes unfold

     Precious father, loving mother,
     Fly across the lonely years
     And old home scenes of my childhood,
     In fond memory appear

     In the stillness of the midnight,
     Echoes from the past I hear
     Old-time singing, gladness bringing,
     From that lovely land somewhere

     I remember mother praying,
     Father, too, on bended knee
     Sun is sinking, shadows falling,
     But their prayers still follow me

     As I travel on life's pathway,
     Know not what the years may hold
     As I ponder, hope grows fonder,
     Precious memories flood my soul

  May the precious memories of Michelle Lyn Present be a comfort and a 
blessing to all those who knew her and to all those to whom she brought 
her many gifts in life.

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