Maurice Hinchey: “I join the other Members of this House in paying tribute to a great veteran in service of his country, Benjamin A.…”

“I join the other Members of this House in paying tribute to a great veteran in service of his country, Benjamin A. Gilman. It has already been mentioned how he served this country as a member of the United States Army Air Corps in the Second World War, rising to the office of Staff Sergeant and serving in 35 missions, and how he earned the Distinguished Service Cross in service to his country. Ben Gilman also went on to serve his country in the State legislature of the State of New York, serving for 3 consecutive terms before he was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1972 where he has served for 3 decades in elegant and effective service to his constituents in New York and the people of this country. I can remember the day in 1972 when Ben was elected. In fact, the day after he was elected, because on that day he did something which is unusual for a successful candidate for public office. The day after he was first elected to the House of Representatives, that next morning, that morning he was on the street of Middletown, greeting people and thanking them for their support in electing him to this distinguished office.”