[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 8 (Tuesday, January 10, 2023)]
[House]
[Pages H116-H117]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1015
                  HONORING THE LIFE OF FREDA FLANSBURG

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Oklahoma (Mr. Hern) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. HERN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize my mother, Freda 
Flansburg.
  My mom was born on March 5, 1944, and peacefully passed away last 
week, last Monday, January 2, 2023, at 12:20 a.m.
  She was truly a fighter. She lost a child, my older sister, Kimberly, 
just after birth. She fought the loneliness of being a mom of two boys 
while my dad was away on multiple deployments to Vietnam. When the 
weariness of war destroyed our family, she started a new journey in 
life that traversed many unplanned hardships.
  Life was truly tough as we grew up. My siblings, Jeff, John, Jayme, 
and Kia, knew from an early age that our life was different from those 
around us. We had no running water, no indoor plumbing. Times were 
tough.
  My mom worked to do the best she could to provide for us. She never 
backed down from the challenges that came before her.

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  She never cared much for us using our life lessons as excuses. 
Rather, she pushed us to use our experiences to become better and to 
keep moving on.
  Like all moms, she was an encourager. As the oldest child, she looked 
to me to set the example for my brothers and sisters. She wasn't 
sympathetic when things weren't going my way.
  The world is full of opportunities, she would say. The challenge was 
always: go to school, make good grades, work hard, treat people with 
respect, and see where life takes you. The government will never make 
you wealthy, she said. You will have to do that on your own, she would 
always tell me.
  My mom became a nurse and spent long hours taking care of the elderly 
in nursing homes. Many of my visits with my mom over the years were in 
the skilled nursing facilities as she would take a break from the 
grueling work schedule that she had that demanded so much of her.
  After the long years of losing a child, raising five children, being 
a grandmother of countless grandchildren, and the arduous work of being 
a nurse, my mom's body had withered away.
  Her heart had tired, and her eyes could no longer see. The last 4 
years have been especially hard for me to watch her health rapidly 
decline.
  Last Monday, my mom took her last breath on this earthly world. We 
all know she is in Heaven looking down upon us with Kimberly by her 
side. Her heart is strong, and her eyes are new.
  My mom would have never wanted me to stay home and not do my job last 
week. She was with me all week as the world watched our great Nation 
debate the future of our Republic.
  I especially thank the nurses and doctors who cared for my mother in 
her last years, months, and days. Your kindness will never be 
forgotten.
  I thank my congressional colleagues for their kind words, sincere 
thoughts, and prayers over the last week.
  I was truly moved by the outpouring of love from both Republicans and 
Democrats over the past week. I thank Democratic Leader Jeffries, 
Caucus Chair Aguilar, and so many of my Democratic colleagues for 
setting politics aside and offering quiet condolences.
  To all of my Republican colleagues, I simply want to say thank you. 
From Leader Scalise, who contacted me immediately upon hearing the 
news, to the members of our freshman class, thank you all.
  Finally, I thank my loving wife, Tammy, and my children, Ashtyn, 
Kelby, and Kaden, for their warmth and love during these difficult 
times.
  To my mom in Heaven above, I simply want to say, I love you, and I 
miss you.

                          ____________________