[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 152 (Wednesday, September 21, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H8014-H8015]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF CARMEN LOUISE BOSSENBROCK
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from
Washington (Ms. Schrier) for 5 minutes.
Ms. SCHRIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the lives of two
outstanding Eighth District residents.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to honor the legacy of Carmen Louise
Bossenbrock who passed away on July 31, 2022, at the age of 94. Carmen
was a pioneering figure in the fight against polio, a tireless
community advocate, and a beloved lifelong Wenatchee Valley resident.
As the polio epidemic rampaged across Washington State, Carmen became
a medical leader in the Wenatchee Valley. Working at Deaconess Hospital
and later Central Washington Hospital as a physical therapist, Carmen
was often the only thing standing between polio patients and
debilitating paralysis.
For 2 years, in the thick of the epidemic, she was the only licensed
physical therapist practicing in north central Washington. As patients
flooded through her doors, Carmen devoted herself to the recovery of
hundreds of patients. As a reflection of her tireless leadership,
Carmen became the head of physical therapy at Central Washington
Hospital until her retirement.
Carmen remained a tireless advocate against polio in her later
career. She was an active member of the Wenatchee Rotary Club--one of
the first women to join. There she passionately led fundraising for
global vaccine programs to ensure no family would have to experience
the devastation of polio.
Friends remember Carmen as a pillar of the community, splitting her
time between her beloved pear orchard in Dryden and her mission to
eradicate polio.
We are deeply grateful for Carmen's service. Her legacy will forever
be a part of the Wenatchee Valley and Washington State. I join Carmen's
family and friends in mourning their loss of an extraordinary woman.
Honoring the Life of Gunnery Sergeant Arthur Branson Summers
Ms. SCHRIER. Mr. Speaker, I would like to share the story of Gunnery
Sergeant Arthur Branson Summers, a U.S. marine killed in action in
World War II. After 76 years, his body has returned home to his family
members and has been laid to rest in East Wenatchee, Washington.
Gunnery Sergeant Summers of Company I, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine
Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, was killed in the winter of 1943 in the
Betio Island battle with Japanese forces. Sadly, Summers was 1 of 1,000
servicemembers who died that day and 1 of almost 500 whose remains were
never found. Tragically for his family, friends, and loved ones, they
were deemed nonrecoverable in 1949.
But this changed in 2009 thanks to the tireless work of the nonprofit
organization History Flight. After a small piece of military rain
poncho was found near the site, History Flight began excavations in
2009 and discovered the body of Gunnery Sergeant Summers along with
several other lost servicemembers. His remains were brought home to his
family, nephews David and Donald McCannel. He received an honorable
burial in East Wenatchee, Washington.
Gunnery Sergeant Arthur Branson Summers answered our Nation's call at
a time of great need, and for his service, valor, and sacrifice, we are
forever thankful.
I would like to recognize History Flight for their work to return
Summers to his home and to thank David and Donald McCannel and their
families for providing Gunnery Sergeant Summers an honorable burial on
American soil.
On behalf of a grateful Nation and the entire Eighth District, we are
proud to have Gunnery Sergeant Summers in his final resting place in
East Wenatchee, Washington.
Honoring the Issaquah All-Stars and the Bonney Lake/Sumner Little
League Teams
Ms. SCHRIER. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a moment to honor some
tremendous young athletes. The Eighth District had not one but two
teams representing our State at the Little League World Series. The
Issaquah All-Stars represented the northwest region at the Little
League Softball World Series, and the Bonney Lake/Sumner Little League
team, at
[[Page H8015]]
the baseball Little League World Series.
Mr. Speaker, I am so proud of these young athletes who represented
our district and State so well on the national stage. Congratulations
to them and their families on their success.
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