[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 71 (Thursday, April 27, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S1415]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  TRIBUTE TO ROBERT AND LINDA BURLOCK

 Ms. HASSAN. Madam President, I am honored to recognize Robert 
and Linda Burlock of Berlin as April's Granite Staters of the Month. 
For half a century, the couple has shown tremendous dedication to their 
community by continually welcoming new families and residents moving 
into the East Side of Berlin.
  Throughout the time that Robert--``Bobby''--and Linda have lived on 
Grafton Street in Berlin, every time newcomers have arrived, they have 
made it their personal mission to welcome them. They are the unofficial 
ambassadors for the neighborhood. One time, when Bobby saw from across 
the street two newcomers struggling to move their furniture, he sprung 
up to help. He originally had taken days off of work to relax and lay 
back, but instead, he spent the next few days helping the newcomers 
settle in. Another time, when a neighbor's father passed away, Bobby 
helped her clean out her father's garage, a task that would have been 
daunting if done alone. When heavy snow covered Grafton Street, Bobby 
would send over a buddy with a snow plow to his neighbors' yards, and 
when their front yards were overgrown with grass, he would offer to mow 
their lawns. Linda worked in lockstep with her husband to welcome the 
newcomers, always inviting them over for drinks and quickly forging 
strong friendships. For every new neighbor, she would always make a 
dish to send over as a welcome gesture.
  Beyond any single act of assistance, Bobby and Linda have developed a 
sense of community in Berlin that is truly special. When their longtime 
neighbor and good friend passed away a few years ago, a newcomer moved 
in from New Jersey. Although he kept to himself at first, Bobby and 
Linda were determined to get to know him, and soon enough they were 
good friends. Bobby says that he now sees his new neighbor as another 
son.
  Bobby and Linda's generosity leaves a lasting impact on the people 
that they assist, showing neighbors, new and old, that everybody 
counts. And they set an example for all Granite Staters by showing that 
each and every one of us can make a difference in our own community. I 
hope that all Granite Staters are inspired by Bobby and Linda's story 
and follow their example of extending kindness to strangers, since our 
communities are only as strong as their individual members. Bobby and 
Linda are a shining example of the Granite State spirit of kindness and 
generosity, and I am glad to honor the neighborhood spirit that they 
have created on the East Side of Berlin.

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