[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 6170]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




CONGRATULATING THE LADIES ANCIENT ORDER OF HIBERNIANS, ST. JOHN NEUMANN 
           DIVISION 1, ON THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF ITS CHARTER

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                         HON. PAUL E. KANJORSKI

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 12, 2005

  Mr. KANJORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask you and my esteemed 
colleagues in the House of Representatives to pay tribute to the Ladies 
Ancient Order of Hibernians, St. John Neumann Division 1, of Wilkes-
Barre, Pennsylvania, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of their 
charter that occurred in January of 1980.
  The primary purpose of the LAOH, which was first organized as the 
``Daughters of Erin'' in 1894 in Omaha, Nebraska, was to protect young 
immigrant Irish girls coming to the United States. The LAOH offered 
support and encouragement and assisted the young women to secure 
employment. The LAOH also assisted the AOH in its efforts to aid the 
sick and needy and to defend priests, church and country.
  In keeping with the original spirit of the LAOH, St. John Neumann 
Division 1 continues to assist young women of Irish descent by 
providing an annual scholarship to Bishop Hoban High School in Wilkes-
Barre. They assist the sick and needy by adopting a family each year 
and contributing time and resources to the local soup kitchens and 
nursing homes. They also volunteer their time and resources to assist 
the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, the American Diabetes 
Association and other worthy community programs.
  The group continues to promote Catholic Irish heritage and culture 
through support of seminarians, their annual St. Brigid Mass, annual 
St. Patrick Mass, participation in Irish cultural history and dance 
programs, the Irish teachers program and parades in honor of St. 
Patrick.
  St. John Neumann Division 1 produced two past LAOH state presidents, 
Claire McNelis Karpowich and Kate Brennan Angerson, and is currently 
represented on the State board of directors by Maureen Lavelle, who 
serves as State historian.
  Mary Ann Amesbury is the current president of St. John Neumann 
Division 1. Division officers include: Kellie Knesis, vice president; 
Maureen Lavelle, recording secretary; Suzanne Cosgrove, treasurer; 
Margaret Tudgay, financial secretary; Mary Ellen Dooley, historian; Ann 
Marie O'Hara, missions and charities; Eileen Potsko, Catholic action; 
Donna Mangan, sentinel and Mary Kathleen Williams, mistress at arms.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me in congratulating the Ladies Ancient 
Order of Hibernians, St. John Neumann Division 1, on this notable 
occasion. The Wilkes-Barre area community is fortunate to have the 
benefit of the selfless community service that members of the LAOH 
provide.

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