[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 178 (Monday, October 30, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1027]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       HONORING TENNESSEE'S SECOND DISTRICT VETERAN OF THE MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. TIM BURCHETT

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, October 30, 2023

  Mr. BURCHETT. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Seaman Lois Hensley, an 
American hero who served faithfully in the Navy from 1942 to 1945.
  Seaman Hensley was born in New Philadelphia, Ohio. After high school 
she couldn't find a job in town and decided to join the Navy at the 
insistence of her father who was a Navy veteran.
  She was sent to Yonkers, New York to become a teletype operator where 
she sent and received logistical messages. After her initial training, 
she was then stationed in Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia.
  In 1945 she returned home and enrolled at Kent State University to 
study nursing where she was reacquainted with her former high school 
classmate James Hensley. They got married in 1946 and had three 
children together.
  The couple moved around with James's job for many years before 
settling down in Friendsville, TN. After James passed away in 2003. 
Lois started doing volunteer work at Blount Memorial Hospital and 
Morning View Village Assisted living center. She started crocheting 
Prayer Shawls for friends and strangers. She made well over 600 shawls. 
She made it her life mission to wrap people in love with the shawls.
  Our country's heroes are the men and women of our armed forces, like 
Seaman Lois Hensley, who continue to serve and sacrifice for our 
country and community. It's my honor to recognize Seaman Lois Hensley 
as the Tennessee Second District's November 2023 Veteran of the Month.

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