[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 10814]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




TRIBUTE TO MRS. BERNICE McGRAIL FOR HER SERVICE TO THE TOWN OF CLINTON, 
                             MASSACHUSETTS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JAMES P. McGOVERN

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 27, 2009

  Mr. McGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Mrs. 
Bernice McGrail, an extraordinary woman who has devoted fully thirty-
six years to the children of the Clinton, Massachusetts Public School 
System as a member of the School Committee. Today, a reception is being 
held in Bernice's honor so that the legions of former students, 
faculty, administrators and local officials can offer her their good 
wishes as she ends a remarkable record of public service to her beloved 
hometown. I regret that I am not able to attend today's reception to 
personally express my profound gratitude, respect and admiration to 
Bernice. However, I did want to submit these heartfelt words of 
appreciation into the Congressional Record so that her immeasurable 
contributions to the development of generations of young people will be 
forever remembered in the annals of this great institution.
  Bernice McGrail's tenure on the Clinton School Committee is not only 
noteworthy for its longevity but also for the quality of the service 
she rendered. For Bernice, the job of serving on the school committee 
did not begin and end with the weekly public meetings. In painstaking 
detail, she reviewed all of the school department correspondence, 
meeting minutes, curriculum proposals and staffing recommendations. 
Bernice's knowledge of the school department budget is unrivaled and 
when combined with her dogged determination she was an especially 
effective advocate for the programs she vigorously supported. In 
addition to doing the difficult committee work, Bernice was also a 
constant presence at all of the numerous school social functions and 
activities. From graduations, to football games, to school plays and 
dances, Bernice never missed an opportunity to show her pride in the 
achievements of the school children. Her warmth and sense of humor have 
endeared her to so many people over the course of nearly four decades 
in elected office that Bernice is widely regarded as a political force 
of nature. Her support for any local initiative is prized and her 
endorsement of any candidate for elected office is coveted. I, for one, 
am eternally grateful for the loyal friendship, unwavering support and 
thoughtful advice Bernice has provided me during my career in Congress.
  After thirty-six years of tireless dedication, Bernice McGrail is 
leaving a legacy of selfless public service that will not soon be 
equaled. She has made an indelible imprint on the Clinton Public School 
System and helped shape a promising future for an untold number of its 
students. Madam Speaker, there is no greater gift than that. I wish 
Bernice and her family continued good health and happiness and kindly 
ask that the United States Congress publicly acknowledge her 
exceptional service to the Town of Clinton, the Commonwealth of 
Massachusetts and the United States of America.

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