April 12, 2005 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E615 The ties that bind America and Greece go, the nations of Greece and Turkey, will sta- lished himself in the business community as of course, far beyond their parallel and noble bilize the region, and will strengthen the well, owning and operating heavy equipment struggles for freedom. The philosophical and bonds and relationships between the United and providing road construction and land cultural connections, although little known States and the countries involved in the con- clearing for local ranchers. In addition, he has to the public at large, could not be stronger flict. or better assimilated. Such connections were As we commemorate Greek Independence given back to the community through his work born almost at the same time with the birth Day, we are celebrating the strength and the as a public servant for the City of Charlotte. of our nation, if not before. In his excellent resolve of the human spirit as well as man’s He began his service as an Alderman, and study of ‘‘Lincoln at Gettysburg,’’ Gary unbending will in the pursuit of freedom. rose through the rank of Mayor Pro-Tem to Wills tells us: The people of ancient Greece gave us values become Mayor, a post he has held with dis- ‘‘America as a second Athens was an idea and ethics and showed us how to fight for tinction for the past 8 and 1/2 years. whose moment had come in the nineteenth freedom and democracy. Our country, more He has left his mark on the community in century. . . . In the early 19th century, an than any other country, shares those values other ways, as well. He and his wife, Jenci, era that became known as America’s Greek and ethics, and in days such as this we reaf- Revival was taking shape. Archaeological firm our common democratic heritage with are the parents of four children of their own, discoveries in Greece at the time brought the the Greek people. The commemoration and and have selflessly given their time to the fos- ancient democracy to mind just as modern celebration remind us also that we should ter parents’ program. Mayor Wilson continues Greece began its struggle for freedom from stay forever vigilant in fighting for and pro- to give his time to his local church, the 4–H, the Turks. tecting our freedom and our democracy, and the Future Farmers of America. ‘‘Edward Everett, President of Harvard, least we lose the right to determine our lives Mayor Mark Wilson is a tremendous asset founder of Mount Auburn, congressman, and our future. for the City of Charlotte, Texas. His work as Massachusetts’s governor, minister to the Dionisios Solomos was the great poet who a public servant, a successful businessman, Court of St. James’s in London, senator, sec- transformed in his poetry the unparalleled retary of state and principal speaker at Get- struggle and the sacrifices of Hellenism in and a dedicated father serve as an example to tysburg years later, was the leader of the the pursuit of Freedom. The Revolution so the rest of us. I am proud to have the oppor- Greek Revival. Harvard established its new much influenced his poetry that he is consid- tunity to thank him here for all he has done. chair of ancient Greek studies for him. While ered the national poet of Greece. One of his f studying in Germany, Everett went to most inspired poems, Hymn to Liberty, has Greece, ‘to walk over the battlefields where almost become synonymous to that Revolu- HONORING THE DEDICATION OF the first democracy of the West won its free- tion and it became Greece’s National An- THE OLIVIA HERMAN TRACK dom.’ He returned to America convinced that them. The poem was published in 1825, along AND FIELD COMPLEX a new Athens was rising here. His appear- with translations in Italian, French and ances, ‘prompted rallies for Greek independ- English. ence’—a favorite cause of Everett. The Revolution would have never been the HON. PAUL E. KANJORSKI OF PENNSYLVANIA ‘‘Everett’s prestige influenced others, in- same without Solomos. The enthusiasm of cluding historian George Bancroft, whose the fighters, as well as the international IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ‘main interest was Greek history.’. . . Ban- sympathy among the Philhellenes would Tuesday, April 12, 2005 croft was ahead of the wave of histories that have definitely been smaller without the Mr. KANJORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today would glorify Periclean Athens in Victorian Hymn to Liberty. England. Direct democracy, a flawed system Probably nowhere was Solomos’s vision of to pay tribute to my good friend Olivia Her- in republican theory, was rehabilitated, for Liberty depicted better than here, in the man, whose life will be commemorated in its usefulness in the parliamentary reform United States. Here, in the Rotunda of our Lehighton, Pennsylvania, as the school district movement, by British historians like George own Capitol Hill, we see a most wonderful dedicates its new athletic complex as the Grote. In America, a similar motion toward painting of Liberty, with the sword in hand Olivia Herman Track and Field Complex. government by the people, not just for the chasing her enemies, exactly the way Olivia served on the Lehighton Area School republic, was signaled by an enthusiasm for Solomos envisioned her in his Hymn to Lib- Board for 13 years, from 1991 through 2003. Greek symbols. Barcroft became a Jack- erty. This figure was painted by another son She succumbed to cancer in March 2004 after sonian Democrat when he began to apply his- of Greece, one who really grasped Solomos’s torical skills formed on the Attic democracy vision of Liberty, Constantino Brumidi. a short battle with the disease. to America’s development. Walter Savage And as a tribute to the United States, Olivia was elected as president of the Landor recognized what was happening in Solomos envisions our country rejoicing in school board from 2001 through 2003. When America when he dedicated the second vol- seeing Greece fighting for Freedom. He de- she attended her very last school board meet- ume of his Pericles and Aspasia to President scribes the American feelings this way: ing in December 2003, the board voted to Andrew Jackson.’’ Most heartily was gladdened dedicate to her the new athletic complex that Greece and the United States, bound by George Washington’s brave land: was being built. Olivia had worked diligently to their absolute commitment to freedom and For the iron bonds remembered, justice, have always been the strongest of obtain funding for the new facilities, and the Her old slavery’s cruel brand. the allies. Greece stood by us and fought school district wanted to show its appreciation. with us in every single war or conflict since We live today in a great, free country. Our For eight years—from 1996 through 2003— we both gained our freedom. And we always country became great, and will always be so, Olivia served on the board of directors for the stood by Greece, and although at times we because the spirit and the morals that we Carbon-Lehigh Intermediate Unit. Prior to that, appeared to have forgotten how loyal and share with Greece, as so eloquently ex- she was the Director of Literacy for Carbon pressed by Solomos, will always be with us. valuable the Greeks had been to us, our ulti- County, and was a volunteer reading teacher. mate commitment to their freedom and well- f Olivia Herman was a tremendous asset to the being never wavered. And as we commemorate and fight to free HONORING THE CONTRIBUTIONS field of education. She was a lifelong advocate all people, let us remember that some other OF CHARLOTTE MAYOR MARK T. of reading and always stressed the importance friends of ours are still agonizing and asking WILSON of literacy. for our help in fighting forces of evil still oc- Olivia received her college degree later in cupying their land and their homes. The peo- HON. HENRY CUELLAR life after working professionally as a social ple of the Republic of Cyprus, Greeks and worker for many years. She went to the Uni- OF TEXAS Turks and all others, should be given more versity of Delaware, graduating in 1971. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES active support by our great nation in their Olivia’s husband, William, was sick at the time efforts to reunite the island and get rid of Tuesday, April 12, 2005 the occupying forces. U.S. leadership is es- and the two stayed in Delaware for a few sential, and now it is the time that we Mr. CUELLAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recog- years before returning to Northeastern Penn- should remember that the Cypriot people are nize Mark T. Wilson, Mayor of Charlotte, sylvania. where we had been, and they are striving for Texas, for his dedicated service to his commu- Olivia, herself a 1942 graduate of Lehighton what we have earned long time ago, that is, nity. Area High School, was by many accounts one their right to freedom, liberty and the pur- Mayor Wilson is one of Charlotte’s proudest of the most gifted athletes to ever graduate suit of happiness. native sons. Born and raised in Charlotte, he from the school. She was especially active in It is essential that American leadership graduated from Charlotte High School and at- gymnastics, but she also participated in bas- urges Turkish and Turkish Cypriot leaders towards peace. These are the two sides that tended TSTI in Waco, TX. While in school, he ketball, cheerleading, and track. She remained hold in their hands, to the largest extent, studied farming and ranching in preparation active in the school district throughout her life, the peaceful solution to the Cyprus problem. for a career as a rancher. organizing reunions for her former classmates A solution that undoubtedly will benefit all Mr. Wilson’s family has been in the ranching every few years. When she retired, she de- the people of Cyprus, but it will also benefit business for many years, and he has estab- cided she still had more to give of herself.

VerDate jul 14 2003 05:20 Apr 13, 2005 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\A12AP8.039 E12PT1