[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 72 (Friday, April 26, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E386-E387]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF ALFREDA SCHMIDT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ELISSA SLOTKIN

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, April 26, 2024

  Ms. SLOTKIN. Mr. Speaker, with a heavy heart I pay tribute to the 
remarkable life and enduring legacy of Alfreda Schmidt--a beloved 
Lansing icon, community advocate, and dedicated public servant who 
touched the lives of countless people throughout her 97 years on this 
earth. Alfreda was loved and respected for her commitment to service, 
compassion for others, and tireless advocacy. She was known 
affectionately as ``The Lady with the Hat,'' for her collection of over 
100 hats, and was rarely seen without one. Just as she believed that 
each hat had a purpose, she believed her purpose was to help others.
  Born in 1926 in Dansville, Michigan, she grew up on her family farm 
and would go on to attend the University of Michigan, Michigan State 
University, and Central Michigan University. In 1951, she married her 
late husband, Frank Schmidt, at St. Mary Cathedral in Lansing, and 
together they raised four children, all instilled with Alfreda's 
beliefs that you never do anything alone, and that helping others is 
always the right thing to do.
  These beliefs guided Alfreda through a long life of community and 
public service. She was elected to the Ingham County Board of 
Commissioners, serving from 1979 to 1981 and 1998 to 2000. She also 
represented Lansing's 2nd Ward on the Lansing City Council from 1981 to 
1993. Alfreda was one of the first women to join the South Lansing 
Kiwanis Club in 1989 and was named 2003 Kiwanian of the Year in 
recognition of her leadership and commitment to her community.
  Throughout her decades of serving the public and taking on community 
projects, she stressed the importance of listening as the key to 
understanding people's problems. Frank would drive Alfreda all over 
Lansing to meet with people who had called Alfreda in the hopes she 
could help solve their problem.
  Alfreda's dedication to Lansing knew no bounds. Among an endless list 
of city projects and improvements, she was the driving force behind 
raising hundreds of thousands of dollars and rallying 2,000 volunteers 
to build the Hawk Island Park playground in just one week. She led 
fundraising efforts to reopen the swimming pool at the Alfreda Schmidt 
Community Center, a community center renamed in her honor in 2012.
  Alfreda's passion for supporting veterans and honoring their 
sacrifices exemplified her deep sense of gratitude and respect for 
those who served our country. She advocated for Wreaths Across America, 
a nonprofit organization that distributes wreaths for placement on 
veterans' graves in military cemetaries.
  She helped initiate Veterans Appreciation Day at the Ingham County 
Fair. Most recently, she served on the Mayor's Veterans Commission and 
just last month she raised funds for

[[Page E387]]

a new sign honoring veterans at the Evergreen Cemetery in Lansing.
  Alfreda Schmidt passed away on April 14, 2024, just a few months shy 
of what would have been her 98th birthday. I send my deepest 
condolences to her dear family, friends, and to all who knew and loved 
her. As we mourn the loss of a true Lansing legend, let us also 
celebrate Alfreda Schmidt's extraordinary life. May her memory be a 
blessing for generations to come. With profound gratitude for her 
contributions to her community, I ask that we honor her legacy of 
service, compassion, and unity here in the People's House.

                          ____________________