Congresswoman Laura Gillen honored Edna Jean Hamler, a resident of the Village of Hempstead, in remarks delivered on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives on Mar. 26 ahead of Hamler’s 84th birthday.
Gillen said Hamler’s life journey began in Alabama during the Jim Crow era and described it as “remarkable” and “brave.” She noted that Hamler participated in and met key figures from the Civil Rights movement while facing racial segregation daily.
According to Gillen, Hamler made a significant decision in the 1960s to leave Alabama for new opportunities in Hempstead, where she raised six children. Gillen said Hamler instilled values such as respect, integrity, and a commitment to education while her children attended Hempstead Public Schools.
Gillen also recognized Hamler’s perseverance through adversity. “Her life has been marked by fortitude, cultivated by confronting segregation and seeking a better future for her family,” Gillen said.
In concluding her remarks, Gillen stated: “It is a privilege to represent and recognize Edna today. She represents the strength of a generation that endured profound injustice and helped shape the diverse and vibrant Hempstead community through quiet determination.”
