Congressional Record—Senate S8956
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S8956 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 8, 2004 HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES ess and grace displayed by the best ath- In Athens, as is the case in every PRIVATE FIRST CLASS NICHOLAS SKINNER letes our country has to offer, includ- Olympiad, there were many amazing ing many from Michigan. Michigan moments that will resonate in our Mr. GRASSLEY. Madam President, I continued our long tradition of con- minds for years to come. Let me take rise today to pay tribute to a great pa- tributing world-class athletes to both a moment to highlight a few of them. triot, PFC Nicholas Skinner, U.S. Ma- the Summer and Winter Olympic Representing the WNBA Champion rine Corps. Private First Class Skinner Games with athletes competing in 13 Detroit Shock on the gold medal win- courageously gave his life on August different sports in this year’s Games. It ning women’s basketball team were 26, 2004, in support of Operation Iraqi was inspiring to witness their total ef- Ruth Riley and Swin Cash. The women Freedom when he was shot during a fort, and in many cases, the realization won the gold medal by going unbeaten, heavy exchange of gunfire in Najaf, of their dreams. There are legions of increasing their Olympic winning Iraq. Private First Class Skinner is young athletes who watched these streak to an incredible 25 games. An- survived by his father Randy Skinner, Games and will continue to dream and other notable achievement was accom- his mother Laura Hamann, his older strive to one day represent their coun- plished by Andre Dirrell of Flint, who brother James and his younger sister try with the same pride, grace and de- won a bronze medal in the middle- Stephanie. This brave young soldier termination that was on display at weight division in boxing. Dirrell was only 20 years old. In his short life these Games. showed the heart of a champion as one he made a lasting impression on his I am particularly proud of the 28 in- of only two U.S. boxers to win a medal friends, family and fellow soldiers. dividuals from Michigan who competed in these Games. I ask my colleagues in the Senate for the United States in the 2004 Ath- First-time Olympian Lauryn Wil- and my fellow Americans to join me ens Olympics. All of the athletes on liams of Detroit won the silver medal today in paying tribute to my fellow Team USA achieved amazing feats to in the 100-meter sprint. In an ex- Iowan, Private First Class Skinner, for qualify for these Games. The Michigan tremely close race, Williams edged out his sacrifice on behalf of our country. Olympians included Martin Boonzaayer a Jamaican runner to finish with the My deepest sympathy goes out to his in judo; Tim Broe in track and field; silver and a personal best time. In addi- family and friends. Private First Class Swin Cash in basketball; Tara tion, Kate Johnson, from the U of M, Skinner was a great man that dedi- Cunningham in weightlifting; Andre won a silver medal as part of the wom- cated himself to his duty as a soldier. Dirrell in boxing; Kate Johnson in row- en’s eight rowing team. The team set a Private First Class Skinner told his ing; Kara Lynn Joyce in swimming; world record in one of their prelimi- grandmother that he joined the Ma- Klete Keller in swimming; Dan nary heats en route to winning their rines because ‘‘They’re over there Ketchum in swimming; Rachel medal. fighting for me and my country, I want Komisarz in swimming; Kate Mac- On the soccer field, the U.S. women’s to go over there and fight for you and Kenzie in rowing; Tom Malchow in team took the gold medal with an ex- my country.’’ Private First Class Skin- swimming; Kate Markgraf in soccer; tremely thrilling 2 to 1 overtime vic- ner is the example of a fine man and a Jamie Nieto in track and field; Carly tory over Brazil. Michigan residents strong soldier. I salute him for his Piper in swimming; Andy Potts in the Kate Markgraf and Lindsay Tarpley sense of duty and his service to the triathalon; Jasna Reed in table tennis; helped the team achieve this victory American people. Ruth Riley in basketball; Dathan over the tough Brazilian team. We can all be proud of this extraor- Ritzenhein in track and field; Artour Tarpley, a midfielder from Kalamazoo, dinary soldier. He did not die in vain, Samsonov in rowing; Jeff Smoke in tallied one assist against Greece and but died for his country that he loved canoe/kayak; Daryl Szarenski in shoot- scored the first goal in the gold medal to serve. Private First Class Skinner ing; Sheila Taormina in the triathalon; match against Brazil. Markgraf of has entered the ranks of our Nation’s Lindsay Tarpley in soccer; Paul Terek Bloomfield Hills, starting in all six greatest patriots. He will always be in track and field; Peter Vanderkaay in games as a defender, helped her team honored as a hero who gave the ulti- swimming; Steve Warner in rowing; remain undefeated. This was her sec- mate sacrifice for liberty. He will be and Lauryn Williams in track and ond time representing the United greatly missed. field. This outstanding group of ath- States in the Olympics. f letes brought honor to our State and Another heart pounder came in the Nation and accounted for a total of 15 men’s 4x200 meter freestyle swimming CONGRATULATIONS TO MICHIGAN medals for the United States: eight relay. The U.S. men’s team, which in- OLYMPIANS gold, five silver, and two bronze. cluded Peter Vanderkaay from Royal Mr. LEVIN. Madam President, I take In addition, competing at these Oak, Klete Keller from Ann Arbor, U of this opportunity to congratulate all of Games were nine other athletes with M alumnus Dan Ketchum and future the athletes who competed in the 2004 ties to Michigan: Michael Phelps in Wolverine Michael Phelps, held off a Summer Olympic Games in Athens, swimming, who will be attending the strong Australian team to win the gold Greece. The Olympic Games celebrate University of Michigan, U of M; Alan and set an American record. In addi- years of training, struggle and perse- Webb in track and field, who attended tion to this golden performance, Keller verance in overcoming obstacles and the U of M; and Venus Williams in ten- won the bronze medal in the 400-meter striving to become the best. It was nis, who lived in Michigan, competed freestyle, and Michael Phelps won an wonderful to see so many athletes from for Team USA. In addition, six athletes additional five gold and two bronze across the globe come together in with Michigan ties competed for other medals to establish himself as one of peaceful competition. countries: Courtney Babcock for Can- the stars of this or any Olympiad. Greece did a tremendous job of ada in track and field; Carlos Delfino For the women’s swim team, Kara hosting the Games. The scenery was for Argentina in basketball; Chris Lynn Joyce from Ann Arbor won a sil- breathtaking, and the venues were Demetral for Greece in baseball; An- ver medal as a part of the 4x100 meter spectacular. These Games were espe- drew Hurd for Canada in swimming; medley relay team. Additionally, cially notable because of the return of Kevin Sullivan for Canada in track and Joyce, along with teammate Rachel the Olympics to its birthplace in field; and Nick Willis for New Zealand Komisarz from Warren, won a silver Greece. The historic legacy of Greece in track and field. medal in the 4x100 meter freestyle was particularly noteworthy for the Every two years we watch the Sum- relay. Another victory was secured by marathon competitors who began their mer and Winter Games to catch a the women’s 4x200 meter freestyle journey in the ancient city of Mara- glimpse of these extraordinary ath- relay team, which included Komisarz thon, the original location of the letes’ struggles and successes. An and Carly Piper from Grosse Pointe event, and for the shot-put competitors Olympian’s life is about sacrifice, Woods who swam in the finals. In the who competed in the original Olympic about showing up to grueling practices finals, the U.S. women broke the world stadium in Olympia. day after day, about working hard to record. Over a 16-day span, the Olympic spir- become the best in the world. It was The athletes with Michigan ties who it was embodied by the athletic prow- riveting to watch these Games unfold. represented other countries had many VerDate Mar 15 2010 21:50 Jan 29, 2014 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00032 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\2004SENATE\S08SE4.REC S08SE4 mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY September 8, 2004 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S8957 notable achievements as well. Second bright while the competitions con- Jeff Nygaard. Jeff showed his Wis- baseman and Troy resident Chris tinue. The five Olympic rings represent consin roots when he named Brett Demetral, a Greek American, assisted the five continents, interwoven to dem- Favre as a favorite athlete. From the Greek baseball team to a 7th over- onstrate the universality of the Games. Madison, Jeff competed in men’s beach all finish. In men’s basketball, Carlos Being an Olympian is a tremendous volleyball. Delfino, who was drafted by the World honor, and I commend the many ath- Andrew Rock. A student at UW-La Champion Detroit Pistons in 2003 and letes who represented our Nation well.