E2124 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks November 16, 2001 As we are all too well aware, on September RINGGOLD SCHOOL DISTRICT, Apprentice Teacher, then finally elected Busi- 11, Osama bin Laden and his Al-Qaeda ter- RINGGOLD HIGH SCHOOL, ness Manager of the Piledrivers Union in rorist network perpetrated a barbaric assault Monongahela, Pennsylvania. 1979. He served in this esteemed position for To the Families of the Victims of September on our Nation, attacking our military and eco- 11, 2001: twenty-two years. nomic symbols in New York and Virginia, tak- It is with heavy hearts that the students During these past twenty-two years, Mike ing the lives of thousands of innocent Amer- and staff of Ringgold High School, has been the Delegate representing his Union ican lives in the World Trade Center and at Monongahela PA, extend our condolences. in Building Trade Councils. He has also been the Pentagon. What can any of us say in these moments a Labor Trustee for the Carpenters Health and We have all heard the stories of many who that seem to be beyond words? How can we Welfare Fund and the Carpenters Joint Ap- rose to that crisis, unselfishly placing their speak to those who mourn? The truth is that prenticeship Committee. we are Ringgold need not say much at all. This man, more importantly, negotiated the lives on the line to save others. I am proud to Emily Dickinson once wrote ‘‘There is a honor another hero, to thank, and to recog- hush in a home on the morning after death, first ever Seven-Year Agreement for a Building nize, Major Victor Badami, United States a silence that would be violated by too many Trades contract in the nation. Mr. Dooley Army. Major Badami’s office was directly in words’’. sculpted his fellow union members into a fo- the path of destruction at the Pentagon. Even We are with you in our silence with cused, united, and vigorous body. though his office was on fire and filling with thoughts and prayers. We must all keep With all of his accomplishments, Mike still smoke, he made certain that his office was hope. Hope to keep living amid desperation, maintains the greatest modesty. There are emptied. But his service did not end there. knowing that there is love, and trusting in show horses and work horses, and Mike has tomorrow. We meet good people all of the been the man to always pull more than his Major Badami assisted a civilian who was or- time but in the rush of life we sometimes do ganizing an effort to move several barrels of not recognize them and look closely enough weight in work and accomplishes his tasks flame retardant from the hanger to the other to realize how their goodness also offers us a without asking for a thank you. The number of side of the walkway, for use by firemen. This sign of what we can yet become ourselves. people he has assisted—myself included— area was within the blast area and chemical As Americans we will not stand-alone. Our quietly throughout the years may never be flames were burning nearby with intense heat. combined strength will assure that freedom known, but is surely massive in number. Mike He was going the first to volunteer and fought and justice will prevail. will head into retirement in the next month, ac- through those horrific conditions until the end. Again we extend our deepest condolences companied by Lynn his wife of twenty-eight to the Families of the Victims of September years. But his service was still not done. Major 11, 2001. Badami then volunteered for stretcher duty to Sincerely, Mr. Speaker, I would like to mention that carry out the injured from the building and re- GINA SASKO. Mike Dooley served his community and neigh- mained in the area until his detail was dis- President, Student bors honestly and fully throughout his life. I missed. As set forth in his soldier’s medal, Government. salute him and thank him for his friendship. Major Bedami’s heroic acts are ‘‘a testament MATT WUJCIK, President, Senior f of his bravery and reflect great credit upon Class. himself and the United States Army,’’ and are MIKE BASSI, THE NEXT PHASE OF THE WAR ON indicative of the compassion and sense of President, Junior TERRORISM duty so proudly displayed in the American Class. spirit. MIKE WILSON, Mr. Speaker, U.S. educator, Paul Zweig, President, Sophomore HON. DOUG BEREUTER once wrote, ‘‘By hero, we tend to mean a Class OF NEBRASKA LORI BARTLEY, IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES heightened man who, more than other men, Student Activities Di- possesses qualities of courage, loyalty, re- rector. Friday, November 16, 2001 sourcefulness, charisma, above all, selfless- SHIRLEY M. CULYBA, Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, this Member ness. He is an example of right behavior; the Principal. wishes to commend to his colleagues the No- sort of man who risks his life to protect his so- Thank you students and staff of Ringgold vember 15, 2001, editorial from the Lincoln ciety’s values, sacrificing his personal needs High. I speak for this Congress in saying that Journal-Star entitled ‘‘Importance of peace- for those of the community.’’ we appreciate your thoughts. keeping is now clearer.’’ The editorial rightly In this spirit, I invite my colleagues to honor f endorses continued U.S. engagement in Af- and thank Major Victor Badami for his cour- ghanistan as the Taliban quickly retreats, en- TRIBUTE TO MICHAEL J. DOOLEY age, loyalty, and selflessness in a moment courages the construction of a multi-ethnic ad- when, like never before, his nation needed a ministrative structure in Afghanistan, and ac- hero. HON. ROBERT A. BORSKI curately recognizes the complexities of these OF PENNSYLVANIA endeavors. f IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IMPORTANCE OF PEACEKEEPING IS NOW CLEARER RINGGOLD HIGH SCHOOL Friday, November 16, 2001 The sudden urgency to set up a provisional Mr. BORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in government in Afghanistan shows the need for Americans to support the use of Amer- honor of Michael J. Dooley, a life-long friend HON. FRANK MASCARA ican forces in peacekeeping roles. to myself and Philadelphia, upon his retire- OF PENNSYLVANIA That support has been granted grudgingly ment. in the past in places such as Bosnia and IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Mr. Dooley will retire as a Carpenters Union Kosovo, with plenty of detractors yapping Friday, November 16, 2001 Official where he served his Local 454 Pile- that American lives should not be put at drivers Union and Metropolitan Regional stake unless America’s strategic interests Mr. MASCARA. Mr. Speaker, I rise to ex- Council of Carpenters in Philadelphia for thirty- faced imminent threat. press my gratitude to the students and faculty three years. This man, born and raised in That argument is no longer convincing in the wake of Sept. 11. It’s now apparent that of Ringgold High School in Monongahela, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, received his Pennsylvania. Americans no longer can blithely assume schooling from distinguished Philadelphia es- that it doesn’t matter what happens in poor, The families of the September 11th attack tablishments and used his education and ex- obscure, violence-wracked countries halfway victims need to know that people all across perience to accomplish remarkable feats for around the globe. The world is now so inter- this Nation are with them during their time of fellow union workers. connected by air travel, the Internet and sat- mourning. Hundreds of Ringgold students Mike attended Saint Joseph’s Preparatory ellite communication that isolation is no have signed a huge banner articulating their School and graduated from Drexel University longer a realistic option. thoughts and prayers. I am forwarding to with a degree in Construction Management. There are limits, naturally, on how often the United States can take on a peace- President Bush a wonderful open letter they He continued his education receiving a Mas- keeping role and how large that role should sent to the families of the victims of Sep- ter’s Degree from Temple University in Voca- be. But when it comes to Afghanistan, there tember 11, 2001, that accompanied the ban- tional Education. Immediately after his studies, really should be no argument. Keeping the ner. I would like to now submit that letter to he began work in his Local Union as an Ap- peace in Afghanistan would be a formidable the RECORD. prentice, climbing to Journeyman status, then undertaking in any circumstances. Under
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