E342 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks February 13, 2007 HONORING ST. JOSEPH’S OF CONGRATULATIONS HELEN GALE Last June, Ms. Cameron competed in the STRATFORD NATIONAL CATHO- FERGUSON ON HER 75TH BIRTH- Miss pageant in Roanoke, VA and LIC CHURCH AS THEY CELE- DAY placed 2nd runner-up. She was then asked to BRATE THEIR 100TH ANNIVER- represent Virginia at the National Miss Sweet- SARY HON. JOHN P. SARBANES heart Pageant in and placed 4th run- OF MARYLAND ner-up to Miss National Sweetheart 2006. HON. ROSA L. DeLAURO IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Madam Speaker, in closing, I would like to thank Ms. Cameron for representing the OF Tuesday, February 13, 2007 Greater Springfield area with great pride and IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Mr. SARBANES. Madam Speaker, I rise respect. I ask my colleagues to join me in con- Tuesday, February 13, 2007 today to celebrate the life of Helen Gale Fer- gratulating her on this distinguished title and in guson and wish her well on the occasion of wishing her the best of luck in all future en- Ms. DELAURO. Madam Speaker, it is with her 75th birthday. Helen was born in New- deavors. great pleasure that I rise today to join the Rev- foundland, Canada in February 1932, where erend Anthony Kopka, members of the con- she grew up with her siblings as the daughter f gregation, and the Stratford community in ex- of a fisherman and boat builder who sailed the TRIBUTE TO DR. MILTON GORDON tending my sincere congratulations to St. Jo- waters of the northern Atlantic. seph’s of Stratford National Catholic Church Upon completion of high school, Helen as they celebrate its 100th Anniversary. This began working for the U.S. Air Force at Ernest HON. LORETTA SANCHEZ is a remarkable milestone for this community Harmon Air Force Base in Stephenville, New- OF treasure and I am proud to help them cele- foundland. It was there that she met and mar- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES brate this momentous occasion. ried Mark E. Ferguson, Jr., during his active Tuesday, February 13, 2007 St. Joseph’s was first organized in Bridge- duty assignment at the base. Following his Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. port, Connecticut by a group of Polish Catholic honorable discharge from the Air Force, they Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a man immigrants in 1907 and later moved to Strat- settled with their children in 1960 in Glen who has been dedicated to higher education ford, Connecticut after building a new church Burnie, Maryland. In 1966, Helen proudly be- and who is a model community servant to my complex. St. Joseph’s was born out of the came a U.S. citizen during a ceremony in An- district, Dr. Milton Gordon. congregation’s desire to exercise more control napolis, Maryland. Helen and Mark were mar- As Chancellor of California State University, over their parish. It was important to the Polish ried for 41 wonderful years until his passing in Fullerton, Dr. Milton Gordon has been a vi- congregants that their church be led by a Pol- 1997. sionary for the students and faculty as he ish priest, services held in Polish—in all, it Helen is the proud mother of four children. works to promote higher education for women was of the utmost importance to the Her personal life is one of grace, quiet and minorities. congregants that their ethnic traditions and strength, and love of family. Her values have On February 27th, 2007, Dr. Gordon will be customs be preserved. In an effort to meet been passed down to her children, as each of honored by KinderCaminata, a non-profit com- these needs, the Church became a part of the them have chosen a life of service to our Na- munity organization in Orange County, Cali- Polish National Catholic Church (PNCC)—a tion. Her daughters Pamela and Patricia both fornia that sponsors educational outreach to denomination which began in Scranton, Penn- work for the Department of Defense. Her son, kindergarten-age children and their families, sylvania. David, works for the Department of the Treas- focusing on promoting literacy, celebrating cul- The PNCC blends traditional Apostolic and ury, and her son Mark serves as a Rear Admi- tural heritage, and career education. Dr. Gor- Catholic teaching with American democracy ral in the United States Navy. Helen is adored don will be receiving the ‘‘Corazo´n’’ Award which is governed by a constitution patterned by her seven grandchildren Alex, Hannah, An- from KinderCaminata. The tribute is a much after that of the United States. The Church es- drew, Eric, Ellie, Ian, and Seth. deserved honor and should be celebrated by Madam Speaker, I know my colleagues will tablished executive, legislative, and judicial everyone in Orange County, California. join me in sending our very best to Helen Fer- branches of government at national, diocesan, Below are remarks that illustrate Dr. Gor- guson on the occasion of her 75th birthday and parish levels. The result is a democratic don’s outstanding commitment to all the stu- and recognizing her as a role model for her Catholicism that among other things provides dents that Cal State Fullerton seeks to serve. strength, dignity, and support for her family. for ownership of parish property by the con- These remarks are taken from Dr. Gordon’s Coming from a family of immigrants myself, I gregation, a voice and a vote for every mem- report to the University’s Latino Faculty and am particularly proud of her as a role model ber in most matters of the parish, and the Staff in October 2006: election of parish delegates to meet with cler- to all who come to this country from humble beginnings, and contribute to the rich fabric of We are here to strengthen our ties as a gy at synods to elect bishops and determine community that is working to make learn- church policy. America. ing truly accessible and preeminent to all Since its inception in 1907, St. Joseph’s has f students and especially to Latino Students. been an integral part of our community and Cal State Fullerton feels that a large HONORING MISS GREATER has now grown to its current 300 parish mem- measure of our success is due to our campus SPRINGFIELD, CARESSA CAMERON bers from 20 different Connecticut commu- outreach efforts and service to the commu- nities. Our churches play a vital role in our nity. While demographic growth has also communities—providing people with a place to HON. TOM DAVIS contributed to the Latino increase, without college readiness programs offered by CSUF, turn to for comfort when they are most in OF VIRGINIA IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES such as Gear Up and ENLACE, the edu- need. By strengthening our bonds of faith, St. cational obstacles faced by large numbers of Joseph’s gives its members a place to find Tuesday, February 13, 2007 Latino students would not have been over- their spiritual center and to solidify and sup- Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Madam Speak- come. port their values. The members of the St. Jo- er, I rise today to honor Caressa Cameron for But there is much more we need to do. We seph’s have also given much to the City of her year of service to the Orga- need to expand our efforts to work with par- ents and students in the middle and high Bridgeport and the Town of Stratford. nization and Greater Springfield area. Throughout the years, as their membership schools of the county to increase the number Ms. Cameron won the title of Miss Greater of college ready Latino graduates. We con- grew so did their commitment to the enrich- Springfield 2006 on February 12, 2006. She tinue to work with colleagues from Ful- ment of our community. has worked tirelessly with the Boys and Girls lerton and Santa Ana Colleges to develop a For 100 years, the St. Joseph’s of Stratford Club to promote her platform of AIDS aware- work plan to improve county-wide Latino National Catholic Church has been a fixture in ness through behavior modification in the college readiness programs modeled after the communities of Bridgeport and Stratford. Northern Virginia area. Santa Ana Partnership and its ENLACE Pro- Through their ministry and outreach efforts, During her reign, Ms. Cameron made nu- gram. We are in the process of creating addi- they have left an indelible mark on our com- merous appearances around Springfield, in- tional programs in the sciences in collabora- tion with Fullerton College to increase the munity and continue to enrich the lives of oth- cluding a gala fundraiser at Greenspring Re- transfer of well prepared Latino Students ers. I am proud to stand today and extend my tirement Community. She also spoke to stu- into our Math-based programs in the very best wishes to them as they mark this dents at Erving Middle School about ‘‘Right sciences and engineering. We hope to expand milestone in their history. Happy 100th Anni- Decisions, Right Now,’’ a pro- such collaboration with transfer programs to versary! gram. Cal State Fullerton from all Orange County

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