[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 15]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 21171]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




      IN RECOGNITION OF ANDRE LOUIS AND THE ``RIDE FOR THE AGES''

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                         HON. GARY L. ACKERMAN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 22, 2005

  Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Andre 
Louis, a selfless and inspirational individual who completed his ``Ride 
for the Ages'' on September 11, 2005.
  On August 10, Mr. Louis began a 3,300 mile journey by bicycle across 
the United States in an effort to raise awareness of the importance of 
maintaining physical health for senior citizens. Andre, the Psychiatric 
Services Coordinator at the Margaret Tietz Nursing and Rehabilitation 
Center in Jamaica, New York, was inspired by his experiences working 
with aging individuals suffering from serious health problems.
  On his way from San Francisco to Jamaica, Andre, who himself is 
nearing retirement age, stopped at various American Association of 
Homes and Services for the Aging facilities to meet with and inspire 
staff members and patients alike. Accompanied by family members along 
the way, Andre has dedicated the ``Ride for the Ages'' to his daughter, 
Michele, who survived leukemia as a result of a bone marrow transplant 
from her brother Jean-Daniel.
  Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I commend Andre Louis for 
his altruism and dedication to the health of our seniors. He is truly a 
determined individual and an inspiration to us all. I ask my colleagues 
in the House of Representatives to please join me in honoring Andre 
Louis for his extraordinary undertaking and wishing him many more years 
of success.

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