[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 10264]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



  IN HONOR OF THE WOOD FAMILY, THE TOWN OF HARRISON, NJ FAMILY OF THE 
                                  YEAR

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ROBERT MENENDEZ

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, June 8, 2000

  Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a great 
family--a great American family. The Wood family is being honored as 
the family of the year by the Town of Harrison, New Jersey, and I am 
very proud to honor them for their contribution to their community.
  The Harrison Family of the year has its roots in the Martin family 
originally from Brooklyn, NY and the Wood family originally from 
Newark. Robert and Rachel Martin's family has lived in the Town of 
Harrison since 1910, and William and Esther Wood's family since 1919.
  After Robert and Rachel's daughter, Margaret, met William and 
Esther's son, Harold, in 1938, they were married, and began a family.
  Harold and Margaret Wood had eight girls and four boys. Of their 
twelve children, five still live in Harrison. Harrison is currently 
home to five of Margaret's children, seven grandchildren, and nine 
great grandchildren. In all, Margaret has thirty-two grandchildren and 
forty great grandchildren.
  The Wood children have an enduring love for this country, a love 
instilled in them by their father, Harold Wood who, having served in 
the Navy in WWII, understood the power and value of community and 
patriotism. He lived in Harrison all his life until his death in 1996.
  For the pride they show in America, and for the contributions they 
have made to the Town of Harrison, New Jersey, I honor and praise the 
Wood family.
  Today, I ask that my colleagues join me in honoring the Wood family 
for being the Town of Harrison's family of the year.

                          ____________________