[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 10]
[House]
[Page 13443]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   IN MEMORY OF JENNIFER ROSE CERNUTO

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 5, 2011, the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. McHenry) is 
recognized for 30 minutes.
  Mr. McHENRY. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to pay tribute to an amazing 
young lady from my district that was taken from us far too soon and far 
too young. Jennifer Rose Cernuto was a resident of Mooresville, North 
Carolina, in Iredell County in my district, and had just graduated from 
high school in May.
  She was looking forward to beginning college as part of the honors 
program at High Point University in the fall. Jennifer and her twin 
sister, Stephanie, served as interns in my district office in Hickory 
last year. My staff still talks about them and the great work that they 
did and their wonderful personalities and their real gift for service.
  Both Jennifer and Stephanie's interest and passion for learning the 
inner workings of government and the district office and the political 
process were far beyond their years. But it was in dealing with 
constituents and helping people that both Jennifer and Stephanie truly 
blossomed.
  In fact, the Cernutos had an ability to speak to constituents, many 
of whom were upset about a problem that they were having or an 
encounter they had with a government agency or perhaps that their 
veterans benefits or a similar program weren't working for them. 
Calmly, they would document their issues and take good care with a 
thoroughness that most lifelong caseworkers would envy. It was as if 
they had been on the job for years.
  It was no surprise that Jennifer excelled in this type of work. 
Whether at school, at church, in everyday life, helping people was a 
hallmark of Jennifer Cernuto's life. In fact, she and Stephanie had 
just returned from Peru with a group of their fellow graduates from 
Southlake Christian Academy, where they helped build classrooms and 
held Bible study classes for indigent children.
  Jennifer and Stephanie, you know, they come from a great family. I 
have known their parents, Jeff and Lisa, for several years, and I am 
honored to count them as friends. They are some of Mooresville's most 
outgoing and most charitable people. And with fine parents like these, 
it's no wonder Jennifer, Stephanie, and their older sister, Samantha, 
turned out to be the fine young women that they did. Incredible, 
special, young ladies.
  But tragedy struck this family and the entire Mooresville community 
over the July 4 weekend when Jennifer and Stephanie were involved in an 
automobile accident. Sadly, Jennifer was taken on that day and 
Stephanie was injured. But, thankfully, thank the Lord, she survived.

                              {time}  1650

  Thousands later turned out for Jennifer's memorial service and 
funeral. People asked, why did so many people, thousands of people, 
come out to this extraordinary 18-year-old young lady's funeral? It 
was, I think, put in the best words by the head of school at Southlake 
Christian Academy, Wayne Parker. He said, ``Jennifer was full of joy 
that easily drew others, as she allowed her love of the Lord to shine 
through her.''
  Jennifer Rose Cernuto was a fine young lady, an impressive 
individual, and I was honored to know her. My staff still has the 
highest praise that they got to work with her. I say to Jeff and Lisa: 
You did a wonderful job raising that fine young lady. And I say to not 
just Jeff and Lisa but to Samantha and especially Stephanie, that the 
lives that Jennifer affected you can never count, but she had a 
wonderful and amazing impact in her brief time on this Earth. Her 
service will not be forgotten.
  With that, I want to pay great honor and to remember Jennifer Rose 
Cernuto for the wonderful person and the wonderful individual she was 
in her brief time on this Earth. I want to say thank you for the 
opportunity to have known her.
  I yield back the balance of my time.

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