March 4, 2004 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E303 It is with great pleasure that we acknowl- brance, not only to ensure that the memory of ceived a master’s degree from Kansas State edge and commend the Department of this terrible time period lives on in their re- University. Before coming to Franklin Coun- Education as the national leader in 21st Cen- spective communities, but also to ensure that ty, Getty taught in Overbrook, and Tipton. tury Community Learning Center program During her tenure at Central Heights, she implementation. In particular, we want to all Americans are aware of the grievous mis- also taught adult classes at Neosho County commend you for your exemplary leadership takes committed in the name of security. We Community College’s Ottawa campus. in developing Ohio’s network of safe and sup- all have important lessons to learn from the in- Beginning in 1994, Getty organized a lit- portive learning environments for all chil- ternment camps. erature festival at Central Heights that dren, both during and outside the traditional Mr. Speaker, the internment camps were brought children’s authors to the area to school day. A tireless and committed advo- one of the worst travesties this Nation has meet with students. In 2002, the event was cate, your singular ability to focus Ohio’s di- ever committed. We must learn from this transplanted to Ottawa University and in- verse communities on the educational needs shameful episode and apply these lessons for cluded students from all of Franklin County. of all children is assuring that Ohio’s edu- ‘‘She had a passion for reading,’’ Steve cation system is the best in the nation. the future. Today we face our own war on ter- Getty, her husband, said. ‘‘Her dream was for On behalf of the Ohio delegation, we extend rorism and phrases like ‘‘homeland security,’’ every student to be able to read. She wanted our thanks to the Ohio Department of Edu- ‘‘terrorist cells,’’ and ‘‘imminent threat’’ have to bring it home to Franklin County, and cation for supporting a program that has im- become commonplace. The security of this wanted all students to see the wonderful pacted the lives of so many children. We con- great Nation can only be safeguarded if Amer- world of literature, meet authors and bring a gratulate the individuals behind the 21st ica’s basic values are also defended. In pur- little culture to their lives.’’ Century Community Learning Center pro- suit of security, we must never threaten the Last year, the event brought together gram and wish them continued success in rights of liberty and freedom that are guaran- more than 1,500 students on the OU campus their efforts to create appropriate edu- to visit with 13 authors, illustrators and sto- cational opportunities for the children of teed by the Constitution. We must not hold an rytellers who took the day to discuss their Ohio. entire culture or society responsible for the ac- craft with the young readers. Steve Getty Sincerely, tions of a few members. We must not restrict said his wife enjoyed reading the same books Members of Congress: Bob Ney, Marcy Kap- the rights of everyone for fear of a few. Above she read to her students. Her favorite au- tur, , , Paul E. all, we must make every effort to ensure the thors included Mary Downing Hahn and Gillmor, Stephanie Tubbs-Jones, Dennis stability of our Constitution even during the dif- Vicki Grove, he said. Kucinich, Steven C. LaTourette, Robert ficult times of war and terror. Getty led the way in affiliating the local Portman, Timothy J. Ryan, , teachers’ association with Kansas National Patrick J. Tiberi, and Michael R. Turner. f Education Association and National Edu- cation Association in 1990. She served several f TRIBUTE TO GERRY GETTY years as president of the association and its SUPPORTING GOALS OF CERTAIN negotiating team, and was a delegate to the COMMUNITIES IN RECOGNIZING HON. DENNIS MOORE state convention and three national conven- NATIONAL DAY OF REMEM- OF KANSAS tions during her tenure. Her efforts earned her the Viking of the Year award, as voted IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES BRANCE upon by her fellow teachers at Central Thursday, March 4, 2004 Heights. Other honors included being recog- SPEECH OF nized in Who’s Who Among America’s Teach- Mr. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I want to take a ers, the 2001 Outstanding Reading Educator HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS moment to recognize the recent passing of award from the Franklin County Reading OF FLORIDA Gerry Getty, a noted elementary school teach- Council and the 2002 Kansas Reading Asso- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES er and community leader in Franklin County, ciation Professional Literacy Award. Thursday, March 4, 2004 Kansas, which is located just to the south of ‘‘She’s a very well-respected teacher,’’ Cen- the Third Congressional District of Kansas. tral Heights elementary principal Mary Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I Gerry Getty taught elementary school for 32 Bogart said. ‘‘She may have led a short life, rise today in support of House Resolution 56. years, was active in the National Education but she was a real doer.’’ Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Monday at This bill supports the creation of a Day of Re- Association, and founded the Franklin County membrance for persons of German, Italian, Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Ottawa. Literature Festival. I am saddened by her Getty has been cremated. A Rosary will be and Japanese descent who had their civil lib- death at the young age of 53 and want to said at 2 p.m. Sunday at Dengel & Son Mor- erties egregiously curtailed by the United bring to the attention of our membership an tuary, Ottawa, followed by a family visita- States Government during World War II. article about her that ran in the Ottawa Herald tion. This bill has important implications not only on February 12th and her obituary from the [From the Topeka Capital-Journal, Feb. 13, for these communities but also for all of us in Topeka Capital-Journal of February 13th. 2004] this country. When our Nation was gripped by Dedicated educators like Gerry Getty are es- GERRY ANN GETTY the fear of war coming to our shores, we sential to the success of our children and Gerry Ann Getty, 53, Ottawa, died Wednes- made an unconscionable mistake in the form grandchildren. Through their selfless work on day, Feb. 11, 2004, at the University of Kan- of Executive Order 9066. Signed on February behalf of their students they foster a love of sas Hospital, Kansas City. Funeral mass will 19, 1942, this order restricted the freedom of learning within our local communities. I com- be 10 a.m. Monday at Sacred Heart Catholic Japanese-, German-, and Italian-Americans Church with the Rev. Tod Ziegler officiating. mend Gerry Getty to my colleagues in the She was born July 21, 1950, to Mathias and along the west coast. Members of these com- House and I hope we all will be inspired by munities were forced to carry identification Marie (Haug) Roeder in Seneca. She grew up her efforts to make life better for her students on a dairy farm in Nemaha County. She cards, had travel restrictions, and found their and for her neighbors in Franklin County. graduated from Baileyville-Benedict High personal property seized with little pretense [From the Ottawa Herald, Feb. 12, 2004] School in 1968. She graduated from Kansas and no due process. Families of citizens and State Teachers College, Emporia, in 1971. In LITERATURE FESTIVAL FOUNDER DIES legal residents alike were forced to leave their 1992, she received a master’s degree from homes and live in deprivation behind barbed (By Andy Gassaway) Kansas State. wires and guard towers in internment camps. Gerry Getty, a retired elementary teacher She married Steven Getty on Oct. 3, 1970, History has taught us that the United States and founder of the annual Franklin County at Seneca. He survives. Literature Festival, died Wednesday after a was wrong to utterly obliterate civil liberties She was an elementary school teacher for long illness. She was 53. She spent 22 of her 32 years. She taught in Overbrook, McDon- during World War II. The fear of spies and 32 years as an educator teaching elementary ald, Tipton and Central Heights. She also saboteurs was unfounded. It turns out that, students in the Central Heights school dis- taught adult classes at Neosho County Com- though gripped by the most destructive and trict, instituting the district’s Parent- munity College’s Ottawa campus. most divisive war of the 20th century, the Teacher Organization and its Reading Is She was a member of Sacred Heart Catho- United States had little to fear from American Fundamental program, in which students re- lic Church. She founded the Franklin County citizens of ethnic backgrounds. The infringe- ceived free books to take home each year. Reading Festival in 2000. She was president ment of constitutional rights for the stated pur- ‘‘When she saw something she thought and chief negotiator for her local chapter of would be good for kids, she went for it,’’ the National Education Association and pose of homeland security was based more Vickie Hall, Lincoln Elementary fifth grade served as a national delegate. She received on racial discrimination than a credible secu- teacher, said. ‘‘She has left quite a legacy of several education awards, including Who’s rity threat. the love of literature.’’ Who Among America’s Teachers, 1995 Viking Japanese-, German-, and Italian-Americans She graduated from Kansas State Teaching of the Year, 2001 Outstanding Reading Edu- deserve, at the very least, a Day of Remem- College in Emporia in 1971. In 1992, she re- cator from the Franklin County Reading

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