E2330 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks November 10, 1999 upper edifice of the church was constructed HONORING AMERICA’S ARMED I fight for freedom, and stands today as a monument of faith and SERVICES DURING THE HOLIDAYS I don’t ask for more, spiritual enrichment to both the church mem my life is my god, my country, my Corps.’’ bership and the Gary community. HON. ROBERT E. ANDREWS The soldier rolled over Over the years, the church has experienced OF NEW JERSEY and drifted to sleep, some changes and was led by a variety of IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES I couldn’t control it, pastors. In spite of its many changes, the loyal Tuesday, November 9, 1999 I continued to weep. parishioners continued to grow and prosper. Mr. ANDREWS. Mr. Speaker, I submit for I kept watch for hours, On June 24, 1994, the Reverend O.C. Comer so silent and still the RECORD a spectacular rendition of the was appointed pastor of Bethlehem A.M.E. and we both shivered timeless holiday tale, ‘‘Twas the Night Before Zion Church. Under Reverend Comer’s guid from the cold night’s chill. Christmas.’’ This holiday season I encourage ance, the church has started two new min I didn’t want to leave all of us to remember the men and women of istries including the Bus Ministry and the on that cold, dark, night, Street Ministry. our country’s armed services who work twen this guardian of honor ty-four-hours a day, seven days a week to Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my other distin so willing to fight. guarantee our safety and the safety of our be Then the soldier rolled over, guished colleagues to join me in congratu loved children. May they know how much we lating the parish family of Bethlehem African with a voice soft and pure, appreciate their sacrifices for freedom. whispered, ‘‘carry on Santa,’’ Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, under the it’s Christmas Day, all is secure.’’ guidance of Reverend O.C. Comer, as they ’TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS One look at my watch, prepare to celebrate their 84th anniversary. All (By an American Marine stationed in Okinawa, Japan) and I knew he was right past and present parishioners and pastors ‘‘Merry Christmas my friend, ’Twas the night before Christmas, should be proud of the numerous contributions and to all a good night.’’ they have made with love and devotion for he lived all alone, in a one bedroom house made of � their church throughout the past 84 years. plaster and stone. I had come down the chimney IN HONOR OF THE UKRAINIAN � with presents to give, BANDURIST CHORUS TRIBUTE TO THE LITTLE ROCK and to see just who in this home did live. NINE AND MRS. DAISY BATES HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH I looked all about, OF OHIO a strange sight I did see, IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HON. MARION BERRY no tinsel, no presents, not even a tree. Tuesday, November 9, 1999 OF ARKANSAS No stocking by mantel, IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to just boots filled with sand, congratulate the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus Tuesday, November 9, 1999 on the wall hung pictures of far distant lands. on their 50th Anniversary in America. The Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus is an all-male mu Mr. BERRY. Mr. Speaker, as we honor With medals and badges, today the Little Rock Nine with the Congres awards of all kinds, sical ensemble consisting of 20 instrumental sional Medal of Honor, I would also like to pay a sober thought ists and vocalists. The chorus was originally tribute to Daisy Bates, who passed from this came through my mind. founded in Kyiv, Ukraine in 1918. The ensem Earth last week. Ms. Bates was a mentor to For this house was different, ble relocated in Detroit, Michigan in 1949. This the Little Rock Nine during the Central High it was dark and dreary, internationally recognized ensemble has per School desegregation crisis in 1957. She was I found the home of a soldier, formed at such well-known theaters as Car a true leader of our time. one I could see clearly. negie Hall, the Kennedy Center, Bolshoi The Daisy Bates was a participant in a move The soldier lay sleeping, ater, and Massey Hall. In addition, the Ukrain ment that changed history forever. Those slient, alone, ian Bandurist Chorus has entertained many curled up on the floor world figures and personalities with their excit young people and Daisy Bates became sym in this one bedroom home. bols to all of us of what it means to be coura ing programs of folk songs, religious works The face was so gentle, and the exotic sounds of the bandura. geous, honorable and exceptionally brave. the room in such disorder, Daisy Bates was a great mentor who had the Three generations of members have passed now how I pictured through the ranks of the Ukrainian Bandurist courage to stand up for what she believed in. a United States soldier. Mrs. Bates was a courageous woman under Chorus since its displacement from Ukraine in Was this the hero 1942. In addition to its mission of carrying the all circumstances and she will be greatly of whom I’d just read? tradition of the bandura to the 21st century, missed. Curled up on a poncho, the floor for a bed? the Chorus is also charged with preserving its past for future generations. The history of the � I realized the families that I saw this night, Ukraine Bandurist Chorus can be traced di PERSONAL EXPLANATION owed their lives to these soldiers rectly to the 12th Archeological Congress in who were willing to fight. Kharkiv, Ukraine in 1902. The first profes Soon round the world, sional bandurist chorus was formed in Kyiv in HON. TODD TIAHRT the children would play, 1918 during the height of the country’s brief OF KANSAS and grown-ups would celebrate period of independence. During a time of in IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES a bight Christmas day. creased popularity and resurgence of the They all enjoyed freedom Ukrainian arts and culture, the group devel Tuesday, November 9, 1999 each month of the year, oped into a professional touring group. Fol Mr. TIAHRT. Mr. Speaker, on November 8, because of the soldiers, lowing this time of heightened regard, the I was unavoidably detained and missed rollcall like the one lying here. Chorus’ history evolved into a turbulent one. vote Nos. 574, 575, and 576. Had I been I couldn’t help wonder The bandurist ideal of God, truth, freedom, present, I would have voted ‘‘yes’’ on H. Res. how many lay alone, and human dignity herald through song were on a cold Christmas eve 94, Recognizing the Generous Contributions in a land far from home. under attack by the newly formed Soviet Made by Each Living Person; ‘‘yes’’ on Union. As a result many of the original mem The very thought H.R. 2904, to Amend the Ethics in Govern brought a tear to my eye, bers of the Ukrainian bandurist Chorus were ment Act of 1978 to Reauthorize Funding for I dropped to my knees executed. After years of persecution and ex the Office of Government Ethics, and ‘‘yes’’ on and started to cry. ploitation the Chorus was forced to immigrate H. Res. 344, Recognizing and Honoring The soldier awakened to Detroit. During a time of devastation and Payne Stewart and Expressing the Condo and I heard a rough voice, uncertainty, Hryhory Kytasty, the long standing lences of the House of Representatives to His ‘‘Santa don’t cry, director acted as a role model and inspiration Family on His Death. this life is my choice; to the young bandurists. Kytasty worked hard
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