[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 10]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 13510]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




CONGRATULATING MARGARET ELLOR ON RECEIVING THE CONGRESSIONAL AWARD GOLD 
                                 MEDAL

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JUDY BIGGERT

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 21, 2005

  Mrs. BIGGERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Margaret Ellor, who 
has earned The Congressional Award Gold Medal. On June 22, 2005, Ms. 
Ellor will receive the award, which honors individuals who have 
completed over 400 hours of community service in a two year span, 200 
hours of both personal development and physical fitness activities, and 
a four-night expedition or exploration. This award is bestowed upon 
only the most deserving of America's youth. Based on her record of 
personal and community service, Ms. Ellor certainly deserves this 
honor.
  Eighteen-year-old Margaret began volunteering for the Girl Scouts in 
Naperville, Illinois when she was five years old. Motivated by a desire 
to aid her fellow Americans living in rural West Virginia, she led a 
thirty-person crew into her community to collect donations, clothing, 
books, sporting goods, and other items for West Virginians in need. She 
then went to The Mountain State to personally deliver the items. She 
also spent one week in each of the past three summers remodeling and 
rebuilding homes in poor communities closer to home.
  When not helping others, Maggie has devoted time to improving her 
public speaking and musical abilities. In addition, she has undertaken 
intense training in Tae Kwan Do, swimming, and cross training. She 
undertook a three year study of the German language and culture, which 
included three weeks living abroad with a German family. She could have 
spent this time with friends or working in a local business. But 
instead, she sought to broaden her horizons while helping others.
  Mr. Speaker, it is clear that Margaret Ellor is an exceptional young 
woman. Her warm heart and sharp mind have proven, at her young age, to 
be of great value to her fellow citizens. Her good deeds in her home 
town are the sign of a good spirit and an even better soul. As the late 
tennis champion Arthur Ashe once said, ``True heroism is remarkably 
sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at 
whatever cost, but the urge to serve others, at whatever cost.'' I can 
think of no better example of that heroic ideal than Ms. Margaret Ellor 
of Aurora, Illinois. I congratulate her on receiving The Congressional 
Award Gold Medal and I look forward to watching where her career takes 
her in the months and years to come.

                          ____________________