September 22, 2016 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E1343 Fighter Group, as a ground crewman with the CELEBRATING THE KIWANIS CLUB CONGRATULATING GINNY THRASH- in southern Italy from 1943 OF TOLEDO’S 100TH ANNIVERSARY ER ON RECEIVING OLYMPIC to 1945. During his heroic service, Brother GOLD IN THE 10 METER AIR Montgomery was awarded a Good Conduct RIFLE Medal, the WWII Victory Medal, the European HON. MARCY KAPTUR African Middle Eastern Service Medal with two OF OHIO HON. BARBARA COMSTOCK Bronze Stars, a Service Award, the Honorable OF VIRGINIA Service Medal, and a Basic Driver and Me- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES chanic Medal. Thursday, September 22, 2016 Thursday, September 22, 2016 After the War, he enrolled into Livingstone Mrs. COMSTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I rise to Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to College, Salisbury, North Carolina, and re- recognize Ms. Ginny Thrasher of Springfield, recognize the centennial celebration of the ceived a B.A. degree in Religious Education. Virginia, on winning Olympic Gold at the 2016 Kiwanis Club of Toledo. Members will gather He served as a Charter Member of the Sphinx Rio Olympics. Her dedication, hard work, and in downtown Toledo on Friday, September 23 Club and was one of the first to be admitted athletic prowess earned her the highest honor to celebrate this milestone. into the Gamma Mu Chapter of the Alpha Phi in the women’s 10 meter air rifle event. This Alpha Fraternity. In 1955, Brother Montgomery Only the ninth club in the , the achievement is reserved for the most elite ath- joined Mother African Methodist Episcopal Toledo club was chartered on May 8, 1916. letes in the world, and I am proud one of Vir- Zion Church—the oldest Black Church in the Originally thought of as a ‘‘businessmen’s ginia’s own has joined their ranks. State of , organized in 1796 in Har- club’’ to promote local business, World War 1 Ms. Thrasher’s hard work, perseverance, lem, New York, and immediately began to changed the focus to that of community serv- and excellence are exemplified in her winning serve as Sunday School Teacher. ice with the members raising funds for the this medal. Winning the first Gold of the tour- To give you some content and background, American Red Cross’ wartime services. Club nament, Ms. Thrasher led the way as the was awarded the U.S. membership grew as community service be- United States dominated their competition, Army Air Corps contract to help train Amer- came firmly established. Its focus was on chil- winning 46 Gold medals during the 2016 Rio ica’s first Black military aviators because it had dren, with many activities for the youth of To- Olympics. We need to recognize and encour- already invested in the development of an air- ledo, orphans and Boy Scouts. age the dedication that athletes like Ms. Thrasher display toward their sports. It is this field, had a proven civilian pilot training pro- According to the club’s history, ‘‘The name gram and its graduates performed highest on dedication that creates the level of excellence ‘Kiwanis’ comes from a Native American term that Ms. Thrasher has achieved. flight aptitude exams. What makes the story of ‘Nun Keewanis’ which means ‘I make noise.’ prominent New Yorkers such as Captain Ros- In addition to her Olympic greatness, Ms. The Kiwanis International motto is ‘We build.’ Thrasher also helped the West Virginia Moun- coe C. Brown, Jr., Intelligence Officer Percy The Kiwanis Club of Toledo has taken these Sutton, Lieutenant Colonel Lee Archer, Jr., Ar- taineers win a fourth consecutive NCAA cham- two expressions to heart . . . As a thriving or- pionship as she won the individual small-bore morer Joseph Herman Spooner and Grounds ganization of men, women and youth; we are Crewman Dabney N. Montgomery remarkable, and air rifle titles at the event. She also holds dedicated to serving the children of Toledo more than 20 national and international is their selflessness and devotion to a country, and improving the quality of life worldwide.’’ despite the segregation and barriers they records in her sport. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to highlight the faced. They were willing to put their lives on The Kiwanis Club’s commitment to Toledo importance of this award and what it rep- the line for American values and freedoms and its young people runs deep. The Club resents for Ms. Thrasher, our great nation, even when discrimination compromised their sponsors scholarships for high school seniors, and the Commonwealth of Virginia. I ask that own rights and liberties. Through their patriot- adopted central city schools and provides fun my colleagues join me in congratulating Ms. ism, the walls of segregation were finally re- and opportunities for the children in those Thrasher on winning Olympic Gold in the moved from our Armed Forces on July 26, schools, financed the facility housing Assist- women’s 10 meter air rifle. I wish her all the 1948. ance Dogs of America, provides for after school tutoring at the Boys and Girls Club and best in her future endeavors. The great exploits and historic successful an annual fishing derby and Punt, Pass & Kick f missions carried out by Grounds Crewman program, donated an elephant and the Living PERSONAL EXPLANATION Dabney N. Montgomery and the Tuskegee Air- Stream at the Toledo Zoo, and supported var- man fighting group, who never lost a bomber ious activities at Woodward High School in To- on their watch, was never properly recognized ledo, the University of Toledo, the YMCA, HON. RICHARD M. NOLAN by this United States government until I intro- Easter Seals Summer Camp, Toledo Hearing OF MINNESOTA duced and proudly sponsored Bill H.R.–1259. & Speech Center, and Bethany House shelter IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES This bill, passed by Congress in 2006, award- for women and their children. By no means Thursday, September 22, 2016 ed the Congressional Gold Medal, our highest complete, this list illustrates the many con- Mr. NOLAN. Mr. Speaker, had I been civilian honor, to . On tributions made by members of the Kiwanis present and voting on Roll Call Number 496, March 29, 2007, my good friend attended the Club and their passion for service to our I would have voted AYE. ceremony in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda, where youth. In keeping with the spirit of giving to Had I been present and voting on Roll Call he and the other Tuskegee Airmen, collec- Toledo’s children, the Kiwanis Club of Toledo Number 497, I would have voted AYE. tively, not individually, were awarded the Con- has initiated a Centennial Project, partnering f gressional Gold Medal in recognition of their with the Toledo Mud Hens baseball club in service. ventures which will enhance the ballpark expe- COMMEMORATING DOUBLE TEN Brother Dabney Napoleon Montgomery left rience for families. DAY his indelible mark on this earth as a war hero, The members of Toledo Kiwanis have led Veteran, moral leader, educator, husband and by example for a century of service. Members HON. MIMI WALTERS OF CALIFORNIA godfather to many devoting his life to the bet- have passed on a strong sense of community IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES terment of all humankind, community, and through the decades, demonstrating by word country. In honor of Brother Montgomery’s and deed the high ideals of Kiwanis and the Thursday, September 22, 2016 Civil Rights legacy, ‘‘The Heels’’ from the dedication of its members. To the men, Mrs. MIMI WALTERS of California. Mr. shoes he wore in the 1965 historic march from women and families of the Toledo Kiwanis Speaker, Monday, October 10 is Taiwan’s Na- Selma to Montgomery will hang in the National Club, we take the opportunity of this centen- tional Day—also known as Double Ten Day. Museum of African American History and Cul- nial celebration to say ‘‘Thank you.’’ Let us ex- The United States and Taiwan enjoy a long- ture in Washington, DC, which opens Sep- press our gratitude as we reflect on the past standing relationship that stems from our tember 24, 2016. century of Kiwanis’ constancy of service and shared values: democracy, the rule of law, I join my colleagues and the rest of the na- leadership for community betterment. May this and free elections. Taiwan is an increasingly tion as we say goodbye and pay tribute to our new century yield committed citizens of equal important partner for our national security, and beloved brother, Dabney Napoleon Mont- measure who rise above self to promote the it is also one of our strongest economic part- gomery, a true American hero. common good. ners. In fact, it was our ninth largest trading

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