[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 15]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 21200]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


          REMEMBERING MICHELE MILLS AS A GREAT POINT-OF-LIGHT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. MAJOR R. OWENS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 16, 2002

  Mr. OWENS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay a special tribute to Michele 
Mills, a Flight Attendant who was also a distinguished community leader 
and friend who's life was cut short by the American Airlines crash in 
Rockaway, New York which occurred only a few weeks after the September 
11th tragedy. As we approach the one-year anniversary of her passing, I 
would like to pause for a moment to remember her and salute her as a 
Great Point-of-Light for All Americans.
  The bird is one of God's creatures. When it is ill or near death, the 
bird does not fly. She prepares for death on the ground. The airplane 
is one of man's creations; sometimes we know when there is illness or 
decay and many times we do not. We say that flying is safer than 
driving a car, and, in our arrogant confidence, we fly our airplanes as 
long as we possibly can. After all, imitating God is expensive and we 
want to get every dollar's worth of flying time from our creations. 
Thus, tragedies such as the end of American Airlines Flight 587 herald 
the immediate need for inspections, new regulations and equipment 
modifications. It is the human way, not God's way.
  Our Lord is always with us. But who, besides our Lord, is on every 
flight worldwide to guide the plane, to make the passengers comfortable 
or to rescue them if the need arises? The valiant crews who love their 
jobs and do them well. And particularly now, in the aftermath of 
terrorist attacks where planes and innocent lives were used as weapons 
of destruction, these flight attendants and pilots have a greater 
burden thrust upon them as a jittery nation struggles to come to terms 
with flying again. And, for the most part, they have been wonderful 
healers for our nation. Day in and day out, these unsung heroes face 
the same risks as their charges and they serve us all very well.
  One of these unsung heroes is our friend, sister, daughter, and 
constituent Michele Mills. Michele Mills was born to Priscilla and 
Eugene Mills on June 4, 1955 in St. Mary's Hospital of Brooklyn, New 
York. Michele remained a proud resident of the Brooklyn communities for 
many years--from both Red Hook and Crown Heights. Michele graduated 
Franklin D. Roosevelt High School in 1973. She furthered her education 
at Fashion Institute of Technology and majored in merchandising/buying. 
She was encouraged to pursue a career in the airline industry by her 
sister, Tricia. She began this career with Overseas National Airlines.
  Michele joined American Airlines in May, 1978, and completed 23 years 
of service. She always kept her priorities in order: God, Family, Work 
and Hobbies. She realized God's presence in her life at a very early 
age and joined Brownsville Community Baptist Church, where she served 
as a faithful member. She was a very spiritual person who routinely 
began her day with meditation and spiritual readings. Michele's family 
and friends were an extremely important element in her life. Her home 
was a gathering place for festive family occasions. She took great 
pleasure in preparing gourmet meals and sharing the serenity and 
peaceful comforts of her home. Her jovial, playful, and light-hearted 
nature readily endeared most any ``strangers'' to her. She was a 
``communicator'' in the truest sense.
  Michele was an avid reader, a gourmet cook, an interior decorator and 
a thrifty shopper. She was rarely seen at work or around the house 
without her ``book of the week,'' nearby. She became well-known by her 
JFK co-workers, family and friends for her famous, ``Michele's Fried 
Chicken.'' Every aspect of her life was orderly; and her attire was 
always impeccable. She took little to nothing for granted.
  Michele was called home while in the line of duty on Monday, November 
12, 2001. Her memories will be cherished by her parents, Priscilla and 
Eugene Mills; her siblings, Tricia and Kenneth Mills; her fiancee, 
Henry Ray; two uncles: Bob Mills of Edison, New Jersey and Freddie 
Holmes of Columbia, South Carolina; five aunts, Albertha Bell of 
Brooklyn, New York, Dezel Mallory of North Carolina, Doris Mills of 
Edison, New Jersey, Lysine Holmes of South Carolina, Irene Holmes of 
Brooklyn, New York, a great aunt, Lucille Wilkins of Brooklyn, New 
York, one god-daughter, Stephanie Holmes of Brooklyn, and a host of 
cousins and friends throughout the United States.
  Thousands of passengers and friends who knew Michele Mills will never 
forget her. In her special way, she was a Great American Point-of-
Light.

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