WHEREAS, Mother's Day in the United States was first suggested by Julia Ward Howe in 1872; in 1907 Ana Jarvis began a campaign to establish a national Mother's Day to memorialize the anniversary of her mother's death; and

WHEREAS, in 1914, President Woodrow Wilson officially made Mother's Day a national holiday to be celebrated each year on the second Sunday of May; and

WHEREAS, Mother's Day is a time to commemorate and celebrate all mothers; this year on Sunday, May 13, 2001 this day will be dedicated to the memory of Penny Brown; and

WHEREAS, Penny Brown assumed many roles during her lifetime; she was wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt, nurse and lastly midwife; and

WHEREAS, Penny Brown began life as the daughter of Jerry and Sibyl Lockwood on April 29, 1960 in Salamanca, New York; and

WHEREAS, In June of 1978 she graduated from Salamanca High School, ranking seventh in her class; she then attended and graduated from Alfred University School of Nursing in May of 1982 as a Registered Nurse; and

WHEREAS, With a desire to experience life to the fullest, Penny Brown enlisted in the United States Air Force; three years later she was honorably discharged with the rank of First Lieutenant; and

WHEREAS, In August of 1984, Robert and Penny Brown were married in the First Congregational Church in Salamanca; after two moves and the births of their children, Kaitlyn and Bradleigh, they moved home to Salamanca to raise their daughters; and

WHEREAS, Life was good for Penny Brown; she was employed as a Registered Nurse by Salamanca Nursing Home; she joined the Cattaraugus County Health Department as a Home Care Nurse and later on as a W.I.C. (Women, Infants, Children) Administrator for the County where her interest in women's health. prenatal care and child birth developed; and

WHEREAS, In September of 1995, Penny Brown decided to stop work and continue her education; she entered the University of Rochester School of Midwifery in which she graduated with honors in 1998 as a Certified Nurse Midwife; and

WHEREAS, Penny Brown joined the staff of the University Primary Health Care in Olean, New York where she provided women's health care, prenatal care and delivered babies at Olean General Hospital; she had delivered over 100 babies during her time with the University Primary Health Care; and

WHEREAS, On Mother's Day, May 9, 1999, Penny Lea Brown's life would tragically end; she was brutally murdered as she jogged on a nature trail located in the city she loved and called home; and

WHEREAS, Penny Lea Brown's voice is stilled forever; she will never again administer comfort to the ill, deliver a baby or embrace her husband and daughters; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to commemorate Mother's Day 2001 and on this day lovingly remember the inimitable life of Penny Brown, which was ended too soon; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to the family of Penny Brown.