Political Quotes

“Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life and work of my dear friend, Mrs. Mary E. Wheeler of Yorkville, New York. I came to know Mary in a role no one ever wishes to have, that of a Gold Star mother. Mary's son, Private First Class Joseph Keith Wheeler, a United States marine, was killed in combat on March 31, 1968, in Quang Tri Province in Vietnam, at just 18 years old. Mary and her family were devastated by the loss of Joseph. But through Mary's pain, she found great purpose to support other Gold Star mothers and their families, as well as Active-Duty members, veterans, and their loved ones. Mary was active until the day she passed in the American Gold Star Mothers Chapter 56 in Utica, New York. This led to Mary being national president of the American Gold Star Mothers from 1999 through 2000, meeting Gold Star mothers and families from across this Nation and interacting with political leaders of both parties in Washington for commonsense policy to support veterans and their families, especially those who paid the ultimate sacrifice, like her dear son, Joseph. Mary was heavily involved in other veteran service organizations, such as The American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Military Order of the Purple Heart Auxiliary, and countless other organizations in our community, including the Whitestown Senior Center and the Salvation Army, which she supported her entire life.…”