[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 9]
[House]
[Page 12507]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  DEARHAVEN THERAPEUTIC RIDING CENTER

  (Ms. FOXX asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the grand opening of the 
DearHaven Therapeutic Riding Center located in Glade Valley, North 
Carolina, and to pay my respects to a woman whose dream of helping the 
disabled has finally come to fruition.
  Susan Billings had a dream. She wanted to help people with 
disabilities find meaning in life by riding horses. This unique form of 
therapy improves flexibility, balance and muscle strength while 
increasing confidence in the disabled. In order to build DearHaven, 
Susan and her husband sold their home and devoted nearly all their time 
and resources to building the center. They assembled a board of 
directors and found their first clients.
  Sadly, however, Susan never saw the final outcome of her dream. She 
passed away in a tragic automobile accident last November. She left 
behind a loving husband, two parents, four children, two stepchildren, 
and her dream for the DearHaven Therapeutic Riding Center.
  Even though Susan passed away, her loved ones refused to let her 
dream die. The tragedy caused the community to unite in a way almost 
unimaginable. Following Susan's funeral, hours of free labor, monetary 
donations, and supplies came from every direction. The center was 
projected to cost $118,000, but due to the generosity of the community, 
ended up costing closer to $20,000.
  One of the great tragedies in our society occurs when a person who 
has lived a long life lies on their deathbed and wonders if their life 
had meaning. Susan Billings did not have to wonder this. She may have 
not lived what many consider to be a long life. But she touched many 
people in a way that will never be forgotten. May God bless Susan 
Billings, her family and friends, and the DearHaven Therapeutic Riding 
Centers.

                          ____________________