[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 134 (Tuesday, August 27, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E843]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                CELEBRATING FRANK WHITE'S 106TH BIRTHDAY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ELISE M. STEFANIK

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, August 27, 2024-

  Ms. STEFANIK. Mr Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Frank White on 
his 106th birthday and thank him for his incredible service to our 
country.
  Frank White was born January 13, 1918, in the Pyrites in Saint 
Lawrence County. Frank traces his ancestry back to the French-Canadian 
Voyageurs which were some of the first settlers of Quebec. He served in 
the Civil Construction Corps for two years in the 1940s and served in 
the United States' Army in 1942 during the height of World War II. 
After his honorable discharge from the 2nd Infantry Division of Grand 
Island, New York, he went to the State University of New York at 
Canton's ``Aggie School'' before starting his own floral shop on Miner 
Street which continues to serve the community today.
  Frank's love for nature extended beyond his work as a florist and 
into many other aspects of his life. It was not uncommon for Frank to 
take solo trips travelling along major rivers in the American West and 
Canadian wilderness in his free time. Frank's love for the water was 
incredibly strong and brought him to be one of the original paddlers in 
the first Rushton Race on May 20, 1962 This has become an annual 
tradition and a summer highlight for the town of Canton, New York, as 
they ate held just south of the town in Taylor Park every year.
  In 1946, Frank married the love of his life, Beulah Crossman, and 
together they opened White's Flowers in 1950, which they operated for 
34 years. The couple were well known within their community and enjoyed 
reading, camping, travel, and canoeing together.
  After retiring from his floral shop in 1984, Frank took up model 
making, recreating classic vessels such as the USS Constitution and the 
VOC Halfmoon. His model of the USS Constitution was presented to 
Nathenial Shick, a commanding officer of the vessel, who was so 
impressed by the model that he displayed it on the ship itself docked 
in Boston Harbor when he took command. Frank currently has models on 
display at the Canton Collection in the State University of New York at 
Canton and additionally at St. Lawrence University.
  On behalf of New York's 21st Congressional District, I am honored to 
recognize Frank White's 106th birthday and his incredible 
accomplishments. I thank him for his service to our great Nation and 
wish him many more happy birthdays to come.

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