Kendrick Meek: “my dear departed friend and colleague, Patsy Mink, was a big girl. She was slight and small in stature, but great in…”

“my dear departed friend and colleague, Patsy Mink, was a big girl. She was slight and small in stature, but great in spirit and heart. I think God thought about Patsy and decided he needed somebody in the Congress who could reach out to everyone, who could make laws, who could extend her hand to everyone. God needed a very strong person. He needed a woman who would stand up against everybody and bring a voice to this Congress for the voiceless people. That is what he did: He chose Patsy. She came in and broke down barriers. She opened doors. She did everything God would have her do. In terms of race, color, gender, she had nothing to stop her. Patsy was a woman of great honor, and we come here tonight to honor her, because God chose Patsy. She spent a lot of her time working for all of us. Every woman in this country stands now on the shoulders of Patsy Mink. I feel much stronger and taller because of what Patsy left, the legacy she left to us. She was a tireless advocate for her constituents in Hawaii. She was a great leader. She was a great model.”