[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 11]
[Senate]
[Page 15138]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO KAY SIGGINS

 Mr. ENZI. Mr. President, I greatly appreciate having this 
opportunity to bring to the Senate's attention a remarkable citizen of 
Wyoming and the United States on the occasion of her 107th birthday. 
Her name is Kay Siggins, and she is a resident of Cody, WY.
  Over the years, Kay has seen it all--the beginnings of aviation, the 
introduction of the automobile to everyday life, the Great Depression, 
two World Wars, the birth of the computer, the advent of television, 
the evolution of radio, the start of the space program, the landing on 
the Moon, and so much more. In a very real sense, for all she has seen 
and done, she is a walking history book.
  The great adventure of Kay's life began when she was born on August 
12, 1903, in Medford, MA. After she had completed her school years, she 
took a job in the State's education system and soon became her school's 
acting principal, in charge of the education of about 3,000 students. 
It was right around then that she and a friend traveled west to stay as 
a guest at the Triangle X Dude Ranch in Wyoming. I believe that must 
have been the start of her great affection and regard for the West and 
Wyoming, for in the years to come she would often return there to visit 
and enjoy all that the West has to offer.
  Then, with the 1940s, the winds of war began to blow. Kay decided to 
join the Navy. She became a commissioned officer and was soon placed in 
charge of the WAVES Boot Camp. Later, as a lieutenant, she was assigned 
to the Great Lakes Naval Training Center and placed in charge of the 
Center's WAVES barracks. She stayed on Active Duty for several years, 
after which she joined the Reserves. She continued to serve in that 
capacity until she retired with the rank of commander.
  Anyone else would have been satisfied to call it a career at that 
point but not Kay. She was just getting started. Kay decided that the 
time had come to head West and see what life was like out there. 
Unfortunately, she must have had a problem with her compass for she 
wound up not in Wyoming but in Green Valley, AZ, where she made her 
home.
  Actually, Green Valley was more of her home base as she pursued her 
goal of visiting all the States. It seemed that she was always on the 
road heading to points north, south, east, or west. She would get her 
motor home ready, hop aboard, and hit the highway. It wasn't long 
before she had seen every State that way but Hawaii. She eventually 
made it there too. She also headed up north to visit Alaska not once 
but twice, just to experience what life was like up there.
  As the years continued to roll by, I have to think that the urge to 
come home to Wyoming and relive those days on the Dude ranch was just 
too strong. She was a young 70ish lady and full of adventure and a love 
of life. She caught the eye of Raymond Siggins, who lived there, and 
they were soon married.
  A check of the records shows that Kay is now believed to be the 
oldest female military veteran in America, the senior statesman of our 
Armed Forces. She may be the oldest veteran in terms of age, but she is 
the youngest in spirit--and she will always be so. That is why Kay has 
always been so successful. She has always led the best way--by 
example--at everything she did, and because that is the way she lived 
her life, she was able to blaze a trail and leave a path for others to 
follow.
  There are always lessons we can learn from how someone else has lived 
their life. Kay has taught us all the wisdom of the old adage 
attributed to Abraham Lincoln: It is not the years in your life, it is 
the life in your years. For Kay, both have been extraordinary.
  I have often said that there is something magical about living in 
Wyoming. The way I see it, although Kay is celebrating her 107th 
birthday, since she moved to Wyoming when she was in her seventies, she 
is only in her thirties in Wyoming years.
  Happy Birthday, Kay. Wyoming couldn't be more proud of you. Because 
of you and your service for so many years of a very wonderful and 
productive life, our Nation is a much better place to live--from coast 
to coast. You have made a difference wherever you have been, and we 
hope you continue to enjoy every day of your life in Wyoming.

                          ____________________