[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 17]
[House]
[Page 24436]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



     A MINNESOTA HERO DIES, BUT CONNIE EDWARDS' LEGACY WILL LIVE ON

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Ramstad) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. RAMSTAD. Mr. Speaker, Connie Edwards taught physical education at 
Countryside Elementary School in Edina, Minnesota, for 14 years. Her 
fourth and fifth grade students loved her. She was a great teacher, a 
wonderful friend, and a true hero.
  This past Wednesday Connie, who fought a courageous battle with 
ovarian cancer, left this Earth, but her spirit will live forever 
through the many young people whose lives she touched.
  As Connie's good friend and former co-worker, Diane Morris, put it, 
and I am quoting, now, ``Connie had such a huge impact on so many 
people, from students to staff and the entire community. She had an 
energy that rubbed off on everybody. The school was her stage, and she 
shined.''
  To show their affection and respect, Mr. Speaker, Connie's students, 
past and present, along with her staff members, fellow staff members, 
and parents of Countryside Elementary School, recently renamed the 
gymnasium in her honor. Despite her serious illness and treatments 
which left her weak, Connie Edwards visited Countryside School 
frequently during her extended sick leave just to be with her beloved 
students.
  As recently as last Monday, two days before she died, Connie visited 
Countryside to cheer on her students during a district-wide cross-
country race. Connie was mobbed by the students, who loved her so 
dearly.
  Countryside principal Ken Hatch commented, and I am quoting again, 
``There is no way in the world Connie should have been there. The 
courage and strength this woman had was astonishing. She displayed that 
right up to the very end. We loved her dearly and will miss her very 
much,'' concluded Principal Hatch.
  Mr. Speaker, it is impossible to measure the great impact of Connie 
Edwards' life on Countryside's young people over the past 14 years. 
Connie's courage, energy, and spirit will live on in the hearts and 
minds of everyone who knew her. Connie was not only a dedicated 
educator, loyal friend, and role model, she was a true Minnesota hero.
  You might be gone, Connie, but Countryside will never forget you. As 
your beloved students told you in that poem they wrote for you, ``Thank 
you, thank you for all you have done. Our lives are forever changed 
because of Connie Edwards, a special one.''

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