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Woonsocket post office dedicated to the late Eleanor McGovern
November 1, 2008 | Ross Dolan, The Daily Republic

WOONSOCKET— About 50 people met at the Woonsocket Community Center Friday to rededicate the town’s post office to the memory of native daughter Eleanor McGovern, late wife of former South Dakota Sen. George McGovern.

Mrs. McGovern died in 2007 at the age of 85.

The event was the culmination of 2007 legislation championed by Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, D-S.D., who was a speaker at the dedication. The event was emceed by Dakota Wesleyan University President Bob Duffett.

Clem Felchle, Dakotas district manager for the U.S. Postal Service, said in dedication comments that folks sometimes joke that it takes an act of Congress to get something done. That’s precisely what it took in this case, said Felchle, to laughs.

“It takes legislation to change the name on a federal building,” he said. That legislation was unanimously approved by Congress, noted Duffett.

The simple dedication plaque stating “This building is named in honor of Eleanor McGovern,” by an Oct. 24, 2007, act of Congress, was unveiled by Woonsocket Postmaster Jacalyn Aymar.

As he greeted friends, George McGovern, 86, proudly wore on his lapel a 1972 presidential campaign pin given to him by a friend that featured his late wife’s picture and the slogan, “Woonsocket’s Own.” He was the Democratic presidential nominee that year.

Sharon Stroschein presented apologies on behalf of Sen. Tim Johnson, D- S.D., who was unable to attend, but she added a personal anecdote about Mrs. McGovern. Stroschein recalled her personal anxiety when she invited the McGoverns to her still-uncompleted new home during the 1972 election. She said she needn’t have worried.

“Once Eleanor McGovern walked through that door, the house had everything it needed.”

Herseth Sandlin noted that Mrs. McGovern always felt she was a partner in her husband’s career.

The dedication had special poignancy for McGovern, he said, because it fell on what would have been the couples’ 65th wedding anniversary.

McGovern said he and Eleanor Stegeberg were married on Oct. 31, 1943, when the country was in the throes of World War II. He also reminisced about their honeymoon trip aboard crowded troop trains as they traveled to Oklahoma, where he was taking pilot training. Their only suitcase was stolen en route.

“I don’t know what kind of president I would have made,” said McGovern, “but Eleanor would have been the most remarkable First Lady. We had a great marriage, and I feel I was the luckiest person alive to have Eleanor all those years.”

His wife didn’t just talk family values, said McGovern, “She lived family values.” He also read several excerpts from his wife’s book, “Uphill.”

“I think it’s wonderful, I’m really pleased,” said eldest daughter Ann McGovern after the dedication. She said she and her siblings always thought that having a wedding anniversary on Halloween was “really strange.” On the other hand, she said with a laugh, “There was no excuse for forgetting it.”

The event was also attended by McGovern’s grandson, Matt McGovern, state director for the Barack Obama campaign; McGovern cousin Scott Peterson, of Minneapolis; Phyllis Rife, Mrs. McGovern’s youngest sister; and family friends that included former South Dakota Gov. Harvey Wollman and his wife, Ann.

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