[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 4 (Thursday, January 6, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E6]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           HONORING THE 100TH BIRTHDAY OF MS. ELSIE HARTMANN

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. CHRIS JACOBS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 6, 2022

  Mr. JACOBS of New York. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate and 
honor the 100th birthday of Ms. Elsie Hartmann.
  Ms. Hartmann was born in Dansville, New York, on January 9, 1922, to 
Ray and Ruth Finch. As a child, she was adventurous, loved the 
outdoors, and was a proud member of the Girl Scouts. Ms. Hartmann 
graduated from Dansville High School in 1939 and served as Senior Class 
Treasurer alongside her future husband Austin ``Mush'' Hartmann, who 
was Senior Class President.
  After high school, Ms. Hartmann attended Cortland Normal School for 
one year as a Physical Education major, and then enrolled at the 
Rochester Business Institute and graduated with a certificate in 
Secretarial Science. After graduating, Ms. Hartmann accepted a job as a 
clerk in the Methods and Tool Design department at Gleason Works, a 
machine shop in Rochester, New York.
  In 1943, Ms. Hartmann left Gleason Works and enlisted with the U.S. 
Marine Corps and was part of the second group of women to enlist with 
the U.S. Marine Corps. Ms. Hartmann joined the Marine Corps to become a 
mechanic, but because of Ms. Hartmann's secretarial background, she was 
sent to Arlington, Virginia, to work at the headquarters of the U.S. 
Marine Corps. At the end of WWII, Ms. Hartmann was discharged with the 
rank of Sergeant, and in 1946 she married her high school sweetheart, 
Mush Hartmann.
  Ms. Hartmann enjoys the simple things of life, bird watching and 
flower gardening, and is happiest when her house is filled with family. 
As the proud matriarch of her large family, which is comprised of 6 
children, 13 grandchildren, and 8 great-grandchildren, she attends as 
many of their events as possible, including high school and military 
graduations, school performances and sporting events. Ms. Hartmann 
still lives at the Hartmann Homestead, which has been in her family for 
over 170 years.
  Ms. Hartmann is very talented both artistically and musically. She 
still sings in her church choir and plays the hand bells. At various 
times in her life, Ms. Hartmann played the violin, piano, flute, tap-
danced, was involved in various singing groups, and participated in 
community theatre. Ms. Hartmann's calligraphy work can be seen 
throughout Dansville and West Sparta, including on the wall of the 
Clara Barton Chapter 1 Museum, and at the Dansville Presbyterian Church 
in their Memorial Book and on the inside front cover of every hymnal 
that is used today. In 2012, a flag-size banner that Ms. Hartmann hand-
lettered, was taken up to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro by a Dansville 
native.
  Ms. Hartmann has always remained involved with her local community. 
Ms. Hartmann is the oldest and longest serving member and choir member 
of the Dansville Presbyterian Church, and is a long-time member of the 
West Sparta Historical Society. In 2004, Ms. Hartmann and her husband 
Mush were chosen as Livingston County Senior Citizens of the Year. In 
2014, Ms. Hartmann had the honor of participating in Rochester Honor 
Flight mission No. 35 and that same year, was chosen as the honorary 
Grand Marshal of West Sparta's Old-Fashioned Day celebration.
  Madam Speaker, please join me in honoring Ms. Elsie Hartmann for her 
service to our country and in celebrating her 100th birthday.

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