[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 5085]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    CONGRATULATING BETTY MILLER ON RECEIVING THE JOSEPH F. SAPORITO 
                       LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

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                         HON. PAUL E. KANJORSKI

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 15, 2005

  Mr. KANJORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask you and my esteemed 
colleagues in the House of Representatives to pay tribute to Betty 
Miller, who was recognized at a reception held February 20, 2005, at 
the Grammercy Ballroom in Pittston. The Sunday Dispatch has chosen 
Betty Miller as the recipient of the Joseph F. Saporito Lifetime of 
Service Award.
  My good friend Betty Miller is a selfless woman who has devoted her 
life to making life better for others. Of all her accomplishments--and 
there are many--Betty is perhaps proudest of the Wyoming Monument 
Association. She is in her 47th year as president of this organization, 
and she was preceded by her mother-in-law. Sarah Perkins Miller was 
president for 35 years.
  The association has more than 350 members--all women--many of whom 
are direct descendents of those who died in the Wyoming Massacre of 
July 3, 1778. Betty's ancestors, William Reynolds and Elias Roberts, 
are listed on the monument among the victims of the Wyoming Massacre.
  The first attempts to build a memorial date back to 1809. In the 
spring of 1841, the women of Luzeme County came together under the name 
Ladies Luzeme Monumental Association and raised the money for the 
monument. In 1860, the State of Pennsylvania gave the title to the land 
to the Wyoming Monument Association.
  I was pleased to work with Betty in getting the Wyoming Monument 
rightfully listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Betty is 
proud of the Monument and proud of the role women have played in its 
history.
  Betty became a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution 60 
years ago. She has served as the First Vice President General of the 
national organization, making her the highest-ranked Pennsylvania 
member ever. Betty just stepped down after her second stint as chair of 
the Wyoming Valley Chapter.
  Betty has served as state president of the General Federation of 
Women's Clubs in Pennsylvania, president of the Wyoming Woman's Club, 
and chair of the board of the Luzeme County Library System.
  Betty has been actively involved with the Greater Pittston Salvation 
Army Advisory Board for 22 years and served as chair of the board on 
two occasions. During the latest Red Kettle Campaign, Betty--at the age 
of 88--rang a bell for the Salvation Army for 6 days in a row, from 9 
in the morning to 5 in the evening.
  In 1976, she was appointed to the Bicentennial Commission and 
participated in planning the Nation's observance of its 200th 
anniversary. She received a special commendation from the Governor for 
her role in the bicentennial.
  Betty volunteers at the Veterans' Administration Hospital. Betty was 
presented with the Four Chaplains Legion of Honor Membership Award by 
the Chapel of the Four Chaplains in Philadelphia and later received the 
Humanitarian Award for ``distinguished service to her fellow man.''
  Mr. Speaker, please join me in congratulating this fine lady who has 
given so much of herself. She is most deserving of accolades from The 
Sunday Dispatch.

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