CONGRESSIONAL RECORD— Extensions of Remarks E1129 HON
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June 15, 2004 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E1129 were rushed into soldiers’ hands. Tragically, In 1940 Hampton established his own big the people of the world. During the occupation the weapons were not adequately tested prior band, ‘‘Lionel Hampton and His Orchestra,’’ of Poland, he courageously defied the Nazis to distribution in Vietnam. It turns out they and it was from this orchestra that the songs to aid the persecuted Polish Jews, and similar jammed frequently, causing untold number of of our time originated. Audiences swayed and acts of bravery have marked his entire public deaths when soldiers’ were left without an lindy-hopped to ‘‘Hamp’s Boogie Woogie’’ and life. After his ordination in 1946, John Paul II automatic weapon when facing enemy fire. ‘‘Evil Gal Blues,’’ and ‘Hamp’ serenaded the worked tirelessly to uphold the teachings and Rather than waiving the requirement that masses while breaking down the color line, ministry of the church in Poland, a constant emergency equipment be tested and evalu- becoming the first African American to play in risk under the Communist rule. ated for effectiveness, as H.R. 4323 currently a number of major hotels and music halls. Recognizing his lifelong devotion to his faith does, and risk the repeat of another debacle Hampton’s orchestra became a training and to humanity, the College of Cardinals like the M–16 during Vietnam, I believe this bill ground for great musicians, graduating leg- elected John Paul II the 264th pope in 1978. should accelerate the testing and evaluation of ends such as Dexter Gordon, Cat Anderson, Last year I was proud to join with my col- critical equipment so that it can be procured Charlie Mingus, Quincy Jones, Dinah Wash- leagues in voting for a resolution recognizing more quickly, but still safely. ington, and Aretha Franklin. the twenty-fifth anniversary of his papacy. It does our soldiers no good to have equip- As much as a presence as Lionel Hampton During John Paul II’s first visit to Poland as ment procured and distributed quickly if it was in the jazz industry, his work in his com- the Pope in l979, he delivered 36 addresses. doesn’t work as its supposed to. Amending munity was equally if not more potent. He was At least ten million of Poland’s 35 million peo- H.R. 4323 to keep the requirement that equip- a goodwill ambassador for the United States, ple saw him in person, in the nine cities, vil- ment to be procured under this new stream- appointed by President Eisenhower to spread lages and shrines that he visited. lined authority still be tested would ensure that the music of jazz and the message of equality Throughout his papacy, John Paul II has the equipment our troops need would provide in his many tours to Africa, the Middle East, joined world leaders on a variety of causes, al- the expected level of protection. Europe, and Asia. He also worked tirelessly ways keeping the ideals of human dignity and f for his beloved Harlem, founding the Lionel high public morality at the forefront. His efforts Hampton Development Corporation which built on behalf of the people of Eastern Europe and EXPRESSING SENSE OF CONGRESS quality low- and middle-income housing in the former Soviet Union were a direct catalyst THAT LIONEL HAMPTON SHOULD New York City and Newark, New Jersey. One in the birth of democracy for those countries BE HONORED FOR HIS CON- of his projects, the Gladys Hampton Houses, once behind the Iron Curtain. TRIBUTIONS TO AMERICAN is named for his wife, the illustrious singer Beyond his extraordinary achievements, MUSIC Gladys Hampton, who died in 1971 after a 35- John Paul II has always had a remarkable af- year marriage. finity with the common man. He once said, ‘‘I HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL Hampton served on the New York City hope to have communion with the people; that OF NEW YORK Human Rights Commission and was ap- is the important thing.’’ Time and again, he IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES pointed as ‘‘Ambassador of Music’’ to the has communed with the people, demonstrating United Nations in 1985. In 1998, he and Lloyd Monday, June 14, 2004 his commitment to humanity on a genuinely Rucker founded the Lionel and Gladys Hamp- personal level. Through his caring and selfless Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I challenge ton Jazz History Education Foundation, an or- acts of faith and leadership, he has engen- my fellow members of Congress, as well as ganization that continues in the honorable dered the love and respect of millions of peo- my fellow Americans, to listen closely as we work of teaching disadvantaged young people ple, both those within his church and those walk our respective paths today. I ask that as about jazz. For his efforts he received both the from beyond the Catholic faith. we journey back to our offices, and then on to Kennedy Center Honor and the National Mr. Speaker, on behalf of my constituents, our homes, we keep our ears pricked, atten- Medal of the Arts, and in 1987 the University including 131,000 Catholics and 112,000 Pol- tive to the sounds which often go ignored in of Idaho named its School of Music after ish Americans in the Fifth Congressional Dis- the clamor of full days and long nights. If we Hampton. trict of Illinois, I am proud to congratulate Lionel Hampton played the vibraphone and are truly mindful, vigilant in our perception of Pope John Paul II for receiving the Medal of flashed his million-dollar smile to audiences the hums, clicks and tones that surround us, Freedom. It is a fitting tribute to a truly remark- across the globe almost until the date he suc- some of us might notice that within the very able human being whose countless achieve- cumbed to heart failure, Saturday, August 31, rhythm to which we walk, the harmony which ments have proved an unyielding dedication to 2002. He was a towering figure of musical paces us on our diverse journeys, we find his Church, to God, and to humanity. slight hints of ‘‘Flying Home,’’ traces of ‘‘Star- greatness and global renown, but he often f dust,’’ and shades of ‘‘Midnight Sun.’’ Mr. bent low to help the neediest among us, and Speaker, Lionel Hampton is more than a giant for this New York, the African American com- PERSONAL EXPLANATION of jazz and an impassioned servant of his munity, and indeed our entire nation is grate- community; he is a part of the fabric of this ful. Our country’s swing is Hampton’s swing, HON. CHARLES A. GONZALEZ our jazz is Hampton’s jazz, and thus there is nation, a lasting presence in the daily melody OF TEXAS of the United States. no figure more worthy of honor by this body IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Lionel Hampton spent his youth in Alabama, than Lionel Hampton. Wisconsin, and Chicago listening to the music Again, I entreat us all to listen closely on Tuesday, June 15, 2004 of Louis Armstrong and dreaming of a future our daily journeys; I dare say that as we walk Mr. GONZALEZ. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall in the budding musical genre called ‘‘jazz.’’ we might, unwittingly, be paced by the lively Nos. 229 and 230, I was delayed due to in- After stints on the drums and marimba, Hamp- report of ‘‘Flying Home.’’ clement weather and was unable to attend. ton took up the vibraphone and set the bench- f Had I been present, I would have voted ‘‘yes’’. mark for excellence on that instrument, for PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL OF FREE- f which he became known as the ‘‘Vibes Presi- DOM FOR POPE JOHN PAUL II dent of the United States. VIET NAM NEVER AGAIN Because of the racism that permeated the music business in the 1930s Hampton’s per- HON. RAHM EMANUEL OF ILLINOIS HON. MAJOR R. OWENS formances were limited to a small number of OF NEW YORK IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES venues, so he partnered with White clarinetist IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES and bandleader Benny Goodman and set Tuesday, June 15, 2004 Tuesday, June 15, 2004 about making history, for the first time creating Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to an integrated public face of jazz music. Be- support and recognize the President’s award- Mr. OWENS. Mr. Speaker, quite a number tween 1936 and 1940, Hampton and Good- ing of the Presidential Medal of Freedom to of Washington leaders have expressed great man created perhaps the greatest swing re- Pope John Paul II. Few others in the history anger over the comparison of the present war cordings of all time: ‘‘Moonglow Opus 1/2’’ and of the world can match John Paul II’s lifelong in Iraq to the past war in Viet Nam. Many in- ‘‘Gone With What Wind?’’ among the duo’s record of championing peace, liberty, and sist that there is no logical comparison: Viet other recordings are the gold standards of the human rights. Nam was a war waged over many years and Swing Era, and they helped to elevate Hamp- Born in 1920 in Poland, Karol Jozef Wojtyla thousands of Americans died. With great glee ton to the status of a jazz superstar. has lived a life of service to his faith and to they point to the fact that we have not yet had VerDate May 21 2004 05:23 Jun 16, 2004 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\A15JN8.050 E15PT1.