Laura Gillen: “I rise today to commemorate Ms. Edna Jean Hamler from the village of Hempstead in honor of her 84th birthday. Growing up…”

“I rise today to commemorate Ms. Edna Jean Hamler from the village of Hempstead in honor of her 84th birthday. Growing up in Alabama during the horrid Jim Crow era, Edna's life is one of a remarkable, brave journey. She took part and met pivotal members of the civil rights movement while facing the daily injustice of racial segregation. In the 1960s, Edna made the courageous decision to leave her home and find opportunity in the village of Hempstead, where she raised her six incredible children. She taught them the values of respect, integrity, and a deep commitment to education while attending Hempstead Public Schools. Her life has been marked by fortitude, cultivated by confronting segregation and seeking a better future for her family. It is a privilege to represent and recognize Edna today. She represents the strength of a generation that endured profound injustice and helped shape the diverse and vibrant Hempstead community through her quiet determination. Mr. Speaker, I wish Edna a wonderful 84th birthday.”