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Chen honors Joyce McMillan at funeral service

President Chen Shui-bian yesterday speaks at philanthropist Joyce McMillan's funeral service in Changhua County's Erhlin Happy Christian Home, which was founded by McMillan in 1965. PHOTO: CNA

President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) presented a citation yesterday to commend the devotion of the late American philanthropist Joyce McMillan to the nation's disadvantaged children.

The citation was received by McMillan's family during her funeral service, held at Changhua County's Erhlin Happy Christian Home, founded by McMillan in 1965.

McMillan died on April 26 in Erhlin.

She was 93 years old.

beginnings

Recapping McMillan's charitable deeds, Chen said that she first came to Taiwan in 1960 to engage in volunteer nursing services after learning that many Taiwanese children with tuberculosis needed help.

While engaging in volunteer nursing services in Changhua County, McMillan discovered that a large number of children were suffering from polio.

This discovery prompted McMillan to stay in Taiwan to set up the Erhlin Happy Christian Homes, whose mandate would be to take care of these children, Chen said.

selflessness

McMillan sold her properties in the US to help finance the operations of the institution here in Taiwan, Chen said.

Over the years, more than 1,000 Taiwanese children have received care at the institution, Chen said.

Because of her selfless devotion to the people of her adopted country, Chen continued, McMillan was the first US citizen ever to receive a Good Samaritan Award in Taiwan.

She was also a recipient of the prestigious Presidential Cultural Award.

Chen Called McMillan a person who truly loved Taiwan and someone who showed it through her generous deeds.

The president then expressed the hope that McMillan's devotion would serve as an example to the rest of the nation and spread from Changhua County to the rest of the country.
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