This is not an official government website.
© 2026 PLEJ LC. All rights reserved.
Congressional Daily Record
This section is a tribute, commemoration, or district-facing statement. It mentions members such as H. Morgan Griffith. Extensions of Remarks are statements submitted for the official record, even if they were not spoken live on the floor.
Issued
May 22, 2026
house side of the record
People
1
Linked members mentioned in this section
Legislation
0
No linked legislation in this section
Committees
0
No linked committees in this section
Senate Holds
0
No hold activity linked here
Source Document
Connected Data
People mentioned
1 Helpful Term
Extensions of Remarks
Material lawmakers submit for the official record even when it was not spoken live on the floor.
Source Control
Reader mode is for comprehension. The linked government PDF is the official published source.
Download official Extensions PDFReturn to issue contextHON. H. MORGAN GRIFFITH
of virginia
in the house of representatives
Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of Carter Family descendant, Ms. Rita Forrester, who worked for years in Southwest Virginia to preserve the storied legacy of an American country music icon, the Carter Family. Therefore, I include in the Record a proclamation in their honor:
Whereas, The Original Carter Family, A.P., Sara, and
Maybelle, changed Country Music history, and helped establish
the fabric of American Country Music, beginning in 1927, with
their first recordings during what Johnny Cash referred to as
the “Big Bang of Country Music.” Over succeeding decades,
they introduced hundreds of songs that became the canon of
“songs everybody knows,” including “Wildwood Flower,”
“Keep on the Sunny Side,” “Will the Circle Be Unbroken,”
and “The Wabash Cannonball;”
Whereas, Janette Carter, daughter of A.P. and Sara,
fulfilled a deathbed promise to her father to “carry the
music forward.” drew on her legacy, her faith, and on the
strength and inspiration of family and friends, and founded
“The Carter Family Fold,” weekly live traditional Country
Music program in the valley, at the homeplace of the Carter
Family. Thus, the Carter Family Fold became a vital part of
our contemporary cultural story;
Whereas, Janette's daughter, Rita Forrester assisted her
mother in producing and running the weekly show and
travelling to events regionally, nationally, and
internationally, to receive accolades and awards, at one
point, meeting British Prime Minister, Margret Thatcher;
Whereas, Rita persevered, helping to maintain consistent
quality, authentic experience for all who came regularly from
every state in the nation and many countries around the world
to experience authentic traditional Country Music, even when
tragedies struck, such as the week her house burned taking
the life of her beloved husband;
Whereas, Rita Forrester, on the event of her mother's
passing, assumed duties as the director, steadfastly ensuring
that this important part of our cultural heritage would
continue, performing tasks including scheduling, hosting and
introducing the performances, personally making homemade
chili for the audience, and travelling to represent the
Carter Family Fold and the family;
Whereas, Rita's humble, gentle manner belies her powerful
influence. In days when social media and artificial
intelligence replace cultural heritage that has sustained our
families for generations, those who nurture our traditional
arts become the heroes of our society; and
Therefore, in the old style of building a home, there was a
foundational hearthstone, or “heart stone” as it was called
by some ancient Scots. Sich is the power of Rita Forrester's
devotion, commitment, and steadfast faith that they are
inextricably woven into the legacy of the Carter Family. Rita
Forrester is recognized as a vital part of the foundation of
the Carter Family Fold, and a Heart Stone of our culture.