Thank you Mr. Speaker.
Honorable Colleagues, I rise to tell you about a constituent of mine, who just celebrated his 90th birthday last weekend.
Phil Harvey was born and raised in Hillsboro. His family has lived in town for generations, so his ties to the town and state are long and strong.
After graduating valedictorian from Hillsboro high school, he left for college at Keene Teacher's College and Tufts University, and then on to the military and the wars.
During WWII, Phil served his country honorably for four years as an Army Air Corps aerial navigator. During the Korean War, he continued to serve, this time as an Operations and Training officer. Indeed, he has been a member of the Army Air Corps and the US Air Force continuously since 1942 for a total of 70 years. He currently holds the rank of Lt. Col.
Phil Harvey is, in my opinion, a true patriot, one of the Greatest Generation.
After the wars, Phil continued his education, earning both a masters degree and a PhD from the University of Connecticut. He went on to a successful career in the field of education and educational testing at ETS in New Jersey and Illinois. He married and raised a family.
Phil retired to his hometown a few years ago. Using his own funds, he purchased and renovated several old houses in his historic neighborhood to their former glory. He spared no expense, and the results are simply stunning. Single-handedly, he brought pride back to his neighborhood and to a struggling town.
But that is not all. Phil has become the unofficial town historian, and is an active member of the town Historical Society. He is active in his church affairs, serving on the board of trustees of the Smith Memorial Church. He serves as a member of the Economic Development Commission for the town of Hillsboro, and is on the Kemp Park Development Committee and the Contoocook North Branch Local Advisory Committee.
And in 2008, at the age of 86, Phil ran for, and was elected to, this venerable House. He served one term honorably, and then retired, saying he was getting "too old." But I don't think of him as old. He is still going strong. He's one of the most knowledgeable, intelligent and giving men I have had the pleasure to know.
Phil Harvey has served his country, his state, and his community all his life.
He is a true gentleman. He is someone to respect and emulate.
He is retired from this house, but he still follows what is happening here in Concord. This week, he exercised his right as a NH citizen to voice his opinion to us all by sending an email asking us to vote No on 5 bills before us today.
He received several replies which upset him, and he shared them with me. Although it will be extremely difficult, I wish to read from one of them now.
"...you are against the protection of individual liberties from the government... you are in favor of tyranny...you are in favor of a judge deciding who will live or die when they are sick... you are not proud of the long tradition of craftsmanship in New Hampshire...and you are a racist ...sorry you are in New Hampshire."
The message continues with a quote from Sam Adams:
"If you love wealth more than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, depart from us in peace. We ask not your counsel nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you. May your chains rest lightly upon you and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen."
Mr. Speaker, Members of this House, we like to refer to each other as "the honorable" in this, the People's House. But this is a title we must earn. I ask you, is this response to my constituent, a former member of this house, and your former colleague, honorable?
Mr. Speaker, Members of this House, we hear a lot about freedom, liberty, and the rights of citizens in this chamber. I say every NH citizen has the right to be treated with dignity and respect in their dealings with the members of this house-even if we do not agree with their point of view.
I say it is an honor and a privilege to serve the people of NH as a member of this house. I say this type of response embarrasses all of us who hold this hallowed office. It embarrasses and insults our citizens, and it embarrasses our great state.
Please, can't we all treat each other with respect?
Brava, Marjorie. At the end, she received a standing ovation from ALL House members present. I hope it carries over into the days to come. |
