E138 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks February 18, 2021 where he perfected his milkshake recipe. He IN RECOGNITION OF DR. over 300 spoken languages in the United began his career in road construction at CHRISTINE OLDHAM States, 169 of these are native languages. Ac- Boyer, Johnson and Kimes. He eventually be- cording to UNESCO, 145 languages in the came a partner and then sole owner of the HON. JOHN JOYCE United States are classified as ‘‘endangered.’’ company. He served until his death as presi- OF PENNSYLVANIA Preserving existing languages is an essen- dent and board member of the Mississippi IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES tial component of preserving our rich and di- Road Builders Association. verse heritage. Thursday, February 18, 2021 Earl went on to marry his class president, Madam Speaker, I believe we must continue Elaine. The two spent 59 years together and Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania. Madam Speak- to promote linguistic diversity and linguistic had three children. The family were members er, I rise to congratulate Dr. Christine Oldham, education in our country. We cannot allow the of Friendship Baptist Church where Earl Superintendent of the Ligonier Valley School 145 endangered languages in our nation to served as Church Clerk, Assistant Moderator, District, on her retirement. become extinct. I urge all my colleagues to choir member and served on many commit- Dr. Oldham began her educational career support this legislation. tees. He was committed to the revitalization of as an elementary school teacher in 1988 in f Camden, Delaware. She then served as an downtown Baldwyn and was very connected CONGRATULATING HERMAN AND assistant principal at Westside Elementary to his family. BOBBIE GOLDBERGER FOR THEIR School in the Greater Johnstown School Dis- Earl Stone was an outstanding Mississip- STEWARDSHIP OF THE HEBREW trict and as a principal in the Conemaugh pian and a man dedicated to his family and WATCHMAN Township School District. Before joining the faith. He will be deeply missed. Ligonier Valley School District, she served as the Superintendent of the Ferndale Area HON. STEVE COHEN f School District for five years. OF TENNESSEE IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES INTRODUCTION OF THE EMANCI- At the Ligonier Valley School District, Dr. PATION STATUE REMOVAL ACT Oldham has been recognized for her leader- Thursday, February 18, 2021 ship on key initiatives and projects. In accord- Mr. COHEN. Madam Speaker, I rise today ance with recent educational research, she in- to congratulate Herman and Bobbie HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON troduced a new, customized learning approach Goldberger on their retirement. Their family- that allows students to proceed at their own OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA owned labor of love, The Hebrew Watchman, pace while being supported by a teacher or IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES has been a cornerstone of the Jewish commu- learning coach. In 2008, she also oversaw the nity in Memphis for 95 years. Founded in 1925 Thursday, February 18, 2021 successful merger with the Laurel Valley Mid- as The Memphis Watchman by Leo I. dle/High School. Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, today, I Goldberger, Herman’s father, it has chronicled Dr. Oldham earned a bachelor’s degree Memphis Jewish life with grace and devotion rise to introduce the Emancipation Statue Re- from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania, a moval Act, the first in a series of statue and for generations. I am very pleased to see that master’s degree from Delaware State Univer- Jewish Living of the South Inc., and Jewish memorial removal bills I will introduce during sity, and a doctorate degree from Wilmington Black History Month. The bill would remove Scene Magazine editor and publisher Susan College. As she retires on June 30, 2021, Dr. C. Nieman, have acquired this important and the Emancipation Statue from Lincoln Park, a Oldham will mark 13 years of service to federal park in the District of Columbia, and beloved cultural institution and have pledged Ligonier Valley students, teachers, staff, and to keep it going for another 95 years. I want require the Secretary of the Interior to donate families. On behalf of the 13th District of the statue to a museum or a similar entity. to thank Herman and Bobbie Goldberger for Pennsylvania, I thank Dr. Oldham for her their stewardship of The Hebrew Watchman The Emancipation Statue was dedicated on steadfast service to our community. As Dr. and wish them well in retirement. April 14, 1876, the 11th anniversary of Presi- Oldham embarks on the next chapter of her f dent Abraham Lincoln’s assassination. Al- life, I wish her every continued happiness. though formerly enslaved Americans paid for f IN RECOGNITION OF JUDGE JAMES this statue, it was designed and sculpted with- KERSTEN’S YEARS OF SERVICE out their input, and it shows. The paternalistic INTERNATIONAL MOTHER TO 33RD DISTRICT COURT statue depicting a Black man on his knees in LANGUAGE DAY 2021 front of President Lincoln fails to recognize Af- HON. DEBBIE DINGELL rican Americans’ agency in pressing for their HON. GRACE MENG OF MICHIGAN own emancipation. OF NEW YORK IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Understandably, recently liberated African Thursday, February 18, 2021 Americans during the Reconstruction era were Thursday, February 18, 2021 grateful for any recognition of their freedom in Mrs. DINGELL. Madam Speaker, I rise Ms. MENG. Madam Speaker, I rise today to a country where they still experienced virtually today to recognize Judge James Kersten on recognize the cultural and historical signifi- total exclusion from American life. However, the occasion of his retirement after serving cance of International Mother Language Day. even at the time of its unveiling, prominent nearly 25 years as the 33rd District Judge in Established by the United Nations Edu- Black Americans expressed their displeasure Woodhaven, Michigan. His contributions to the cational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization with the statue’s design, including Frederick community are worthy of commendation. (UNESCO) in 1999, International Mother Lan- Judge Kersten grew up in Trenton, grad- Douglass. During his keynote address at the guage Day raises awareness of linguistic di- uating from Trenton High School. In 1977, statue’s unveiling, Frederick Douglass point- versity and multilingualism. Every year since I Judge Kersten graduated from Michigan State edly did not praise the statue. Rather, in a let- have been a Member of Congress, I have in- University and in 1980 he earned his law de- ter to the editor of the National Republican a troduced legislation to recognize the signifi- gree from the Detroit College of Law. Judge few days after the unveiling, Douglass ex- cance of International Mother Language Day. Kersten started his career as an attorney in pressed his dismay at the statue: ‘‘The negro International Mother Language Day is cele- Flat Rock where he represented local families here, though rising, is still on his knees and brated around the world on February 21st and and businesses. Later, he served as a Wayne nude. What I want to see before I die is a holds special importance for the Bangladeshi County mediator and arbitrator for 10 years monument representing the negro, not couch- American community. On February 21, 1952 and eventually, Judge Kersten was elected to ant on his knees like a four-footed animal, but Bangladeshi students died while dem- serve as the 33rd District judge following in erect on his feet like a man.’’ onstrating for recognition of Bengali as a na- the footsteps of his father, Judge Kurt Kersten. At the end of last year, Boston removed its tional language of Pakistan. International During his time as a Judge, he encouraged replica of the statue and plans to place it in a Mother Language Day is an important day to people in trouble to use that experience and publicly accessible location where it can be commemorate those who have fought for the make a positive change in their lives and was better contextualized. It is time for Congress to right for their language to be recognized. known for his skillful mediation of long stand- place the original statue in a museum, too. Madam Speaker, the United States has a ing civil disputes. I strongly urge my colleagues to support this diverse and rich linguistic and cultural herit- Beyond his work in the judiciary, he is an legislation. age. The Census Bureau reports there are active member of St. Paul Lutheran Church, VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:30 Feb 19, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\A18FE8.005 E18FEPT1 ctelli on DSK11ZRN23PROD with REMARKS February 18, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E139 the Elks Club of Flat Rock, Flat Rock Rotary, and beyond. His dedication to both local com- trol Division in 1980, he was later elected as and Downriver youth sports. He has dem- munity and fellow officer has made the State the 30th Jefferson County Sheriff, serving two onstrated his commitment to the entire Michi- of Connecticut more safe and his workforce terms from 1999 to 2006. Appointed by then gan community, and it is my honor and privi- more whole. Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee in 2001, lege to recognize his distinguished work today. Madam Speaker, knowing of Patrick Drag- Sheriff Fontaine served as a Commissioner on Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join on’s selfless service and how he has re- the Arkansas Commission on Law Enforce- me in honoring the Honorable James Kersten sponded to unimaginable tragedy, it is objec- ment Standards and Training (CLEST). Prior for an exemplary career in public service. He tive to state his work represents the best of to his service at home, Sheriff Fontaine served has effectively served Woodhaven and the law enforcement.