[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 48 (Tuesday, March 17, 2026)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E226]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                RECOGNIZING MR. THOMAS ``MUCKA'' McGRATH

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. STEPHEN F. LYNCH

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 17, 2026

  Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor Mr. 
Thomas ``Mucka'' McGrath, President of the South Boston Citizens 
Association, a steadfast steward of Boston's history and a tireless 
champion of community in South Boston, Massachusetts.
  For years, Tom McGrath has stood at the center of some of our city's 
most meaningful traditions, including the annual Evacuation Day 
commemorations at Dorchester Heights. As organizer and guiding force 
behind this and many other events, Tom has worked diligently to ensure 
that the legacy of March 17, 1776--the day British forces evacuated 
Boston following General George Washington's successful fortification 
of the Heights--is duly honored and celebrated.
  This year marks the 250th anniversary of that historic moment. It is 
a milestone in the history of Boston, and in the founding story of our 
great Nation. Through Tom's leadership, the Evacuation Day ceremonies 
have grown into a fitting tribute to the courage and sacrifice of those 
who secured one of the first major victories of the American 
Revolutionary War. He has helped transform remembrance into renewal by 
bringing together veterans, elected officials, students, families, and 
neighbors in a shared celebration of American independence and Boston 
pride.
  Tom's work extends far beyond event planning. As President of the 
South Boston Citizens Association, he has dedicated himself to 
strengthening civic life in our community. He understands that history 
is not simply something we commemorate once a year; it is something we 
live out in how we serve one another. Under his leadership, the South 
Boston Citizens Association has continued its longstanding mission of 
promoting civic engagement, neighborhood pride, and respect for the 
traditions that define South Boston. In a rapidly changing city, Tom 
McGrath has been a steady hand, ensuring that progress does not come at 
the expense of memory and that future generations understand the 
sacrifices that built today's community. His commitment reflects a deep 
love of neighborhood and country, and an abiding belief that local 
traditions are the foundation of our national identity.
  Mr. Speaker, it is often said that our freedom was secured at 
Dorchester Heights. Thanks to leaders like Tom McGrath, the spirit of 
that victory endures 250 years later.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Thomas ``Mucka'' 
McGrath for his service to South Boston and to the City of Boston, and 
in thanking him for preserving and honoring the legacy of Dorchester 
Heights for generations to come.

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