[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 1]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 979]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     PAYING TRIBUTE TO PEGGIE FORD

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                           HON. SCOTT McINNIS

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 3, 2004

  Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to rise and pay tribute to a 
remarkable woman from my district. Peggie Ford from Grand Junction, 
Colorado recently returned from a trip to Venezuela where she and a 
team of volunteers performed volunteer medical work for underprivileged 
children. Peggie's altruistic dedication to those less fortunate than 
herself is certainly deserving of recognition and it is my honor to 
call her acts to the attention of this body of Congress and our Nation 
here today.
  Peggie is a surgery nurse with Saint Mary's Hospital in Grand 
Junction. She traveled to Venezuela as a member of a team of volunteers 
organized by Rotaplast International, a non-profit organization 
dedicated to providing medical help to underprivileged people 
throughout the world. This was Peggie's second trip to provide medical 
services to the needy. On the first, she traveled to Chile, where she 
assisted in numerous beneficial surgeries for those in need.
  During her recent trip to Venezuela, Peggie and her team worked 
tirelessly to provide reconstructive surgery to children with cleft 
palates. Fueled by their intense desire to help, the team performed 
surgeries for 11 straight days. Each morning, they began work at dawn 
and continued late into the night. Those who received the surgery were 
eternally grateful and truly had their lives enhanced by the selfless 
dedication of the volunteer medical professionals.
  Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to rise and pay tribute to Peggie Ford. 
It is truly a remarkable person that is willing to spend their vacation 
time to travel across the world to employ their talents for the 
betterment of others. Peggie is the embodiment of all that makes this 
country great and it is my honor to rise and pay tribute to her 
selfless contributions.

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