Boys Town Centennial Commemorative Coin Act
Floor Speech
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I rise today in support of H.R. 893, the Boys Town Centennial Commemorative Coin Act, introduced by the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Fortenberry), and I seek its immediate passage.
Mr. Speaker, on December 12, 2017, Boys Town will celebrate 100 years of saving children and healing families. Boys Town was founded in 1917 by a young Irish priest, Father Edward Flanagan, who believed that every child could be a productive citizen if given love, a home, an education, and a trade. He accepted boys of every race, color, and creed--an amazing thing back in 1917.
Boys Town first opened on December 12 of 1917 in a rundown Victorian mansion in downtown Omaha, Nebraska. In 1921, the home later moved to Overlook Farm on the outskirts of Omaha, where it remains located today. A number of years ago, I had the privilege of visiting Boys Town. By the 1930s, hundreds of boys lived at Boys Town, which grew to include dormitories and administrative buildings, and the boys even elected their own government, which included a mayor, a council, and commissioners.
News of Father Flanagan's work spread worldwide, and even Hollywood took notice with the very famous 1938 movie ``Boys Town,'' with Spencer Tracy, who won an Academy Award for his portrayal of Father Flanagan. At the request of President Truman, he even traveled the world, visiting orphans and advising government leaders on how to care for displaced children after the war.
Although Father Flanagan died in 1948, his work at Boys Town, which Flanagan called ``God's work''--and I think most of us would agree with that--continued. Today, although Boys Town is still headquartered in Nebraska, it continues to expand its care across America. It is one of the largest nonprofit child care agencies in the country, providing treatment for behavioral, emotional, and physical problems for children and their families, helping as many as 2 million people annually. Additionally, the Boys Town National Research Hospital is a global leader in the research of Usher syndrome.
Mr. Speaker, I can't think of a better way to commemorate Father Flanagan and Boys Town than by creating this commemorative coin. The spirit of Boys Town truly embodies the best of America. This bill would help recognize and continue to nurture that spirit.
I commend the gentleman from Nebraska for his hard work on this issue, and I ask for the immediate passage of the bill.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Source