[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 6285]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



       COMMENDING THE VIRGIN ISLANDS FRESHWATER ASSOCIATION, INC.

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. DONNA M. CHRISTENSEN

                         of the virgin islands

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 25, 2001

  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise on this occasion to commend an 
outstanding group of Virgin Islanders--Helen George-Newton, Eldra 
Malone-Drew, Ava Stagger, Carol Stagger, Kenneth ``Cisco'' Francis and 
Renaldo Chinnery, who, as residents of New York, recognized the need to 
preserve and promote the culture of the Virgin Islands. In March of 
1991, they officially established the Virgin Islands Freshwater 
Yankees, which was later incorporated as the Virgin Islands Freshwater 
Association, Inc.
  Since then, the Association has grown to 75 dedicated members, who 
contribute to their Virgin Islands community through educational 
scholarships, supplying equipment to the health facilities on all three 
islands, helping our senior citizens and the underprivileged children, 
providing supplies during natural disasters or emergency occurring in 
the territory.
  Although this organization takes their responsibilities seriously, 
they also find time to have fun and participate in the annual carnival 
activities on St. Thomas and St. Croix.
  They also serve as an oasis for Virgin Islanders on the mainland by 
sponsoring yearly social events. They promote and offer guidance to the 
other Virgin Islands associations throughout the United States and 
continue to preserve the values that are the roots of their heritage.
  For the past ten years, in commemoration of the day that the Virgin 
Islands were transferred from the Danish government to the United 
States, ``Virgin Islands Transfer Day'', this organization has honored 
numerous outstanding Virgin Islanders in the area of sports, politics, 
education, health and community involvement. This year, the 
organization and all of its past honorees was recognized at the Tenth 
Anniversary Transfer Day Dinner Dance held in New York on March 31, 
2001.
  Mr. Speaker, I wish to recognize and commend the Virgin Islands 
Freshwater Association, Inc. as an outstanding model for community 
involvement and the preservation of their culture. I invite my 
colleagues to join with me in congratulating the efforts of this 
organization.

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