[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 15]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 20467]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                TRIBUTE TO MARGARET JEAN WALES O'ROURKE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. SCOTT GARRETT

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 30, 2004

  Mr. GARRETT of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, the fabric of American 
history is woven with the hearts of Patriots. Since the colonists' 
first landing on American soil centuries ago, courageous men and women 
have toiled, sacrificed, and persevered to build a legacy of freedom 
and hope for future generations.
  While the public contributions of some have been widely lauded, the 
silent service of countless others is known only in the freedom that we 
as Americans continue to cherish.
  Margaret Jean Wales O'Rourke was one such unheralded patriot.
  Born on August 24, 1922, Margaret grew up in Saddle River, New 
Jersey. She became a nurse and spent time serving at St. Albans 
Hospital in Long Island, New York. In 1943, in the midst of World War 
II, Margaret answered her country's call and traveled to California to 
work as a nurse in the San Leandro Naval Hospital.
  While in San Leandro, Margaret met Charles Arthur O'Rourke, the man 
who would become her husband. A fellow-patriot, Charles was born on 
December 19, 1923, and joined the Navy in 1942 at the tender age of 18. 
He spent several years at sea serving in the South Pacific during World 
War II.
  Charles and Margaret completed their time in the Navy in 1946. They 
married and settled in Ramsey, New Jersey. Although their tours of duty 
were over, however, their service to country did not end.
  The O'Rourke's had three children: Thomas, Shirl, and Barbara. Thomas 
carried on the O'Rourke military tradition and joined the United States 
Marine Corps in 1966. He remained in the Marines until 1974, serving as 
a Cobra pilot in Vietnam.
  Today, Thomas's son and Margaret and Arthur's grandson, United States 
Marine Corps Major Kevin Thomas O'Rourke, continues his family's 
military heritage, serving as an F-18 pilot in Iraq.
  Margaret passed away on August 20, 2004. Her course in life took her 
farther than she may have anticipated, and her legacy will surely be 
more enduring than she ever could have imagined. Through their 
dedication to protecting and preserving liberty, three generations of 
O'Rourke's have now become part of the tapestry of America.
  While Margaret's life on earth has passed, her gift to all of us will 
endure. I honor Margaret's memory, and her service to the United States 
of America.

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