[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 8668]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



  HONORING THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE VFW NATIONAL HOME FOR CHILDREN

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DEBBIE STABENOW

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, May 19, 2000

  Ms. STABENOW. Mr. Speaker, today I recognize the Veterans of Foreign 
Wars National Home for Children during their 75th Anniversary Gala 
Celebration. The VFW National Home for Children, located in Onondaga 
Township in rural Ingham County, has been serving our country, our 
state, our families and our children for 75 years. Through the initial 
efforts and determination of Amy Ross, a young woman from Detroit, this 
unique and cherished place has grown in the last several decades to 
include over 70 buildings on 629 acres nicely situated on the Grand 
River.
  The VFW National Home for Children has created an inclusive community 
to assist families of those who served our country who can benefit from 
the assistance of a caring family environment. The National Home 
provides a variety of structural programs to help children develop the 
many skills that will enable them to succeed as young adults. Each of 
these programs, such as family living environment for orphans, single 
parent programs and pre-school education and day care, provide 
essential assistance for our veterans and their loved ones. In 
addition, the Home's Education Department has a library, media center 
and computers that allow everyone to hone useful skills in our 
information-age connected economy. Tutoring is provided for students as 
well.
  Mr. Speaker, the National Home also provides a dynamic roster of 
extra-curricular events throughout the year. These diverse activities 
include trips to cultural destinations throughout the state and beyond, 
such as the Detroit Zoo, fishing on Lake Erie, watching hockey games in 
Kalamazoo, canoeing on the Grand River, cross-county skiing and 
spending a day at Cedar Point in Ohio.
  I was proud to support the VFW National Home for Children as a state 
legislator, and I am proud to rise today to commend the VFW National 
Home for Children on their 75th anniversary. This is a milestone which 
highlights many decades of service and commitment to the betterment of 
our future leaders.

                          ____________________