[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 15041]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              TRIBUTE TO MARY JO MALUSO AND RICK BLACKSON

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                      HON. JAMES A. TRAFICANT, JR.

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 30, 2001

  Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased today to congratulate Mary 
Jo Maluso and Rick Blackson on their marriage yesterday in Youngstown, 
Ohio. I have had the pleasure of knowing Mary Jo for many years and I 
consider her a good friend. I have also had the fortunate opportunity 
to get to know Rick a little better through Mary Jo, and I know that 
these two will have a happy and healthy union together.
  This was one of the most beautiful and unusual weddings I have ever 
attended. Mary Jo and Rick are both excellent musical and theatrical 
talents, and they decided to use those talents to celebrate their 
wedding day. Their musical marriage celebration was titled ``It's All 
About Love'', costarring Mary Jo Maluso and Rick Blackson. Rick played 
piano, Mary Jo sang, and although these two have wowed audiences with 
their performances in the past, what I watched on this particular 
``stage'' was very real and very well done. I congratulate Rick and 
Mary Jo for doing what they love to do while at the same time 
expressing their love for one another.
  I want to wish them all the best as they embark on their new life 
together. In conclusion, I want to congratulate Rick on writing all of 
the music, including the lyrics. This original score may be used 
someday for other weddings because after all, ``it's all about love.''

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