Political Quotes

“I thank my colleagues from Maryland and Arizona for bringing this bill to the floor. I rise today in support of H.R. 2223, a bill to name the post office building in Munising, Michigan, after the late Mrs. Elizabeth Kinnunen. Born in 1893, the former Elizabeth Lempi Paasto immigrated to our country from Finland in 1903. She came, like many in northern Michigan and throughout our great land, for freedom and opportunity and for a chance at the American Dream. She married Oscar Kinnunen in 1909. Together, they had 11 children. To provide for their family, Mr. and Mrs. Kinnunen operated a boarding house in Marquette, Michigan. They provided lodging to timber and mining workers in Marquette County. Eventually, they moved to Munising, Michigan, where Oscar worked for the paper company and Elizabeth worked as a local cook. Mrs. Kinnunen continued to work to support her family after Oscar died in 1952 and was a faithful member of the Messiah Lutheran Church in Munising. Mrs. Kinnunen's life was, unfortunately, marked by tragedy in two great wars that defined this country. Two of her sons, Eiso and Raymond, were killed overseas defending the American people and our freedom. Eiso was killed in action during the Battle of the Bulge in 1945, and Raymond lost his life in Korea in 1952. We will never know the devastating grief their family must have suffered after such an enormous loss. We will also never be able to fathom the somber dignity Mrs.…”