NURSE G GRADUATES -- AGAIN!
Nurse G graduated from Elmira College on Sunday with her degree in nursing. It was her 2nd BS degree from EC. After earning her first, she went to work for Corning Inc. in their research facility. Several years later she decided to quit and return to college to become a nurse. She and Little H are standing in front of Mark Twain's study, which sits in the middle of the campus. For some reason, neither one would smile until I said, "Say poopyhead!" Little H is in that phase when the mere mention of the *P* word sends him into fits of laughter.
The guest speaker was Eileen Collins, America's first female space shuttle pilot and mission commander.
Elmira native, Eileen Collins, was the guest speaker: It was Collins' turn in the role-modeling department Sunday as she addressed 408 graduates, their families and friends.
"I want to assure you that dreams do come true," she said. All it takes is five H's, she added: hard work, humility, honesty, health and happiness.
Eileen Collins received an honorary degree in science.
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Another honorary degree was given to Barbara Riggs, Elmira native, who protected President Ronald Reagan: Barbara Riggs was the first woman to serve as deputy director of the U.S. Secret Service and protected Presidents Gerald Ford through George W. Bush before retiring in January.
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When President Reagan died June 5, 2004, Riggs was asked by her boss to represent the Secret Service during observances in California. Riggs and three others flew to California aboard Air Force One.
She was with Nancy Reagan aboard Air Force One when her husband's body was flown to D.C. where Riggs took part in all of the ceremonial events. "Because I had such a close relationship with him, that was very meaningful to me," she said.
Today is the 2nd anniversary of Reagan's death.
Ronald Reagan, Teacher: Reagan's poll numbers in January of 1983 stood at 35% as he was pummeled for a policy that declared the Soviets an "evil empire." Because he stood by his principles, because he understood the nature of human beings, their eternal yearning for freedom and had a keen grasp of what he called America's "historical role as the spiritual leader of the Free World," there is no Soviet Union today.
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