E2236 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks October 3, 2008 

IN HONOR OF GRAYCE BOGDEN 

NOTEBOOM ARNOLD 

HON. GABRIELLE GIFFORDS OF ARIZONA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Friday, October 3, 2008 

Ms. GIFFORDS. Madam Speaker, I am 

honored today to acknowledge the inspiring 

life of Grayce Bogden Noteboom Arnold, a 

woman who made great contributions to cultural development in my district and to the 

community of Patagonia, Arizona. 

Grayce Bogden Noteboom Arnold arrived in 

Patagonia in 1976. Her route to Arizona from 

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, took her first to 

Guadalajara, Mexico, where her husband, 

John Patton Arnold, had been commissioned 

by Popular Mechanics and the American Automobile Association to publish the first motor 

tourist guide of Mexico in the mid-1950s. 

Mexican President Luis Echevarria later recognized this guide as opening ‘‘the gateway’’ to 

motorized travel in Mexico. 

Grayce and John also built one of the first 

prototype house cars (recreational vehicles) by 

converting a 1949 Ford panel truck, nicknamed ‘‘La Tortuga’’. When they returned to 

the United States from Guadalajara, Grayce, 

John and their two children, John David and 

Elaine, settled in Nogales, Arizona. Subsequently, they moved to Tucson where Janie 

was born and John Senior passed away in 

1972. During all this time Grayce had been 

developing her artistic talent. She took sand 

cast candle lessons from famed Tucson artist 

Ted DeGrazia. 

In 1976, Grayce moved into the Miner’s Old 

Home in Patagonia, which had been built in 

1905 as the residence for the chief mine engineer Mr. McDonald. The house was in very 

poor condition and was extensively remodeled 

to provide living quarters and ultimately became home to Grayce’s Gift and Candle Shop 

and Museum. Grayce’s reputation as an artist 

and entrepreneur flourished. Her contributions 

include designing Patagonia’s first 3 postcards 

and her civic involvement to promote Patagonia as a tourist destination. Over the years, 

her notable business contacts included film 

stars Faye Dunaway and Joanna Cassidy. 

Visitors to Grayce’s shop see immediately 

that it is more than a place of business. It is 

part museum, art gallery, and gift and candle 

shop. They also receive a personalized guided 

tour and explanation of the artistic renderings. 

The guest book contains entries from thousands of people from all walks of life from 

around the world who have left their names 

and cheerful comments about their visit. 

Grayce’s artistic collection includes her awardwinning sand cast candle dioramas. The Tree 

Spirit, Cocoon, Desert Storm and other creative masks are the centerpiece of her artistic 

creations. Two of the masks have been featured on postcards which she designed. One 

of Grayce’s greatest sculptures is her rendition 

of a Tarahumara man in traditional dress 

squatting in contemplation. At Grayce’s you 

will find unique southwestern arts, crafts from 

indigenous Mexican cultures including the 

Tarahumara, Yaqui, and Seri Indians. 

People who knew Grayce are inspired that 

a person of her age was so full of life, physically active and ran her own business until 

age 97. Grayce would be the first to tell you 

that age is irrelevant as she did belly dancing, 

remarried and launched her artistic career in 

her 60s. She always told her children to never 

stop dreaming, to be creative and to help others. 

Grayce has been an inspiration to all of us. 

She stands as a wonderful example of the significant contributions that women in the west 

make to the cultural and economic development of our communities. 

f 

HONORING SSGT LLOYD LEE ELLIOTT, USAF 8TH AIR FORCE— 

34TH BOMB GROUP 

HON. MARY FALLIN OF OKLAHOMA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Friday, October 3, 2008 

Ms. FALLIN. Madam Speaker, I rise today 

to commend SSgt Lloyd Lee Elliott, USAF of 

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, for his service to 

the United States of America. 

SSgt Lloyd Lee Elliott, USAF, distinguished 

himself in service to our country from August 

13th, 1943, to October 15th, 1945. SSgt Lloyd 

Lee Elliott served as a tail-gunner on a B–17 

Bomber completing 33 missions over Germany. 

There are many paths which are set before 

us in life, many times paths which are not desirable to pursue. Answering the call of his 

country, this young man followed the path before him not knowing if it would lead him safely back home. Believing in the freedom of the 

United States and in defending our rights, 

Staff Sergeant Elliott distinguished himself in 

service to our country. 

Each person who has served our country 

has many experiences which can be shared. 

We share today with Staff Sergeant Elliott our 

thanks and our gratitude for his service. He is 

one of many who have sacrificed; answering 

the call to make the United States of America 

what it is today. 

Once again, I want to commend SSgt Lloyd 

Lee Elliott, USAF. 

f 

POLISH AMERICAN HERITAGE 

MONTH 

HON. RAHM EMANUEL OF ILLINOIS

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Friday, October 3, 2008 

Mr. EMANUEL. Madam Speaker, this month 

I proudly join the thousands of Polish Americans living in Chicago in a celebration of Polish history, culture, and pride during Polish 

American Heritage Month. 

This year, Polish Americans celebrate the 

400th anniversary of the arrival of the first 

Poles to America’s first settlement in Jamestown, Virginia. The first five Polish settlers 

traveled to Jamestown aboard the English 

ship, the Mary and Margaret, at the invitation 

of Captain John Smith and the London Company. They arrived on October 1, 1608 and 

distinguished themselves as America’s first 

tradesmen. Poles, alongside other ethnic 

groups, were among the pioneers who helped 

to establish this country as the land of hope 

and opportunity. Their work ethic helped create the foundations of modern America. 

The celebration of this milestone coincides 

with another important historical landmark: the 

90th anniversary of the reinstatement of Polish 

independence. In 1918, after 123 years of occupation and generations of struggle by the 

Polish people, Poland reappeared on the map 

of Europe after World War I. 

The United States is grateful to Poland for 

its friendship and commitment to the democratic ideals of liberty and human rights. Poland is a strong ally of the United States, and 

I am dedicated to continuing the strong record 

of cultural and economic ties between our two 

nations. 

My hometown of Chicago has a thriving and 

active Polish American community. Madam 

Speaker, I am honored to join the citizens of 

my district, as well as those of Polish descent 

around the country in recognizing, remembering, and celebrating Polish American Heritage Month. 

f 

CONGRATULATING PREVENT 

BLINDNESS WISCONSIN 

HON. RON KIND OF WISCONSIN

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Friday, October 3, 2008 

Mr. KIND. Madam Speaker, I rise today to 

congratulate Prevent Blindness Wisconsin and 

to celebrate its 50th anniversary of service. 

Prevent Blindness is a non-profit, volunteer organization that has provided free vision 

screenings for over five million Wisconsin children and adults since 1958. 

This year alone, Prevent Blindness Wisconsin recruited, trained, and certified nearly 

2,000 volunteers who helped screen more 

than 220,000 children and 3,000 adults statewide. Through their hard work, they were able 

to help diagnose hundreds of children who 

suffered from significant vision abnormalities, 

which, left untreated, could have resulted in 

permanent vision loss. 

Prevent Blindness has a wonderful history 

of helping children from families in need, atrisk adults, and the community to help screen, 

treat, and prevent vision problems from worsening. Their volunteers join together with local 

eye-care professionals to ensure that these 

children can get the treatment they need to 

protect their vision. 

On behalf of all who have benefited from its 

efforts, I would like to thank Prevent Blindness 

Wisconsin for all of its work for children, 

adults, and families in Wisconsin. I congratulate Prevent Blindness Wisconsin on 50 years 

of service and wish everyone who makes their 

work possible a joyous anniversary celebration. 

f 

HONORING JEFF MILLER, 

FOUNDER OF HONOR AIR 

HON. HEATH SHULER OF NORTH CAROLINA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Friday, October 3, 2008 

Mr. SHULER. Madam Speaker, I rise today 

to honor Jeff Miller, a small business owner 

and son of a World War II veteran from Hendersonville, North Carolina. Mr. Miller is one of 

the founders of Honor Air, which enables hundreds of World War II veterans the chance to 

travel to Washington, DC to see the National 


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