26094 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS, Vol. 153, Pt. 18 October 1, 2007 only with their financial contributions, but with (a , and now) a .’’ Bishop all victims of terrorism. Pursuant to the Com- their time.’’ Mansour has kept the promise he made 25 memorative Works Act, my legislation author- As one donor said, ‘‘God’s been really good years ago to serve Our Lord Jesus Christ with izes Dark Elegy as a commemorative work, to me and I feel this need to be good to some- humility, joy, and compassion. I ask the House making it eligible to be located in the Wash- one else who might be in dire circumstances.’’ of Representatives to join me in congratulating ington, DC, area on land owned by the Na- And that, Madam Speaker, is what makes him as he celebrates this momentous occa- tional Park Service or Government Services the center a valuable member of the Novato sion and wish him the best for the future. Agency. community—neighbors helping neighbors. f Dark Elegy is currently located in Montauk, Congratulations to the Novato Human Needs New York—in my home district of eastern Center on its 35th anniversary, and to the TRIBUTE TO COLONEL JAMES Long Island—and has been exhibited around people of Novato for supporting such a worthy KASLER OF MOMENCE, ILLINOIS the Northeast for the past 16 years. The me- organization. morial was created by one of my constituents, f HON. JERRY WELLER the artist Suse Lowenstein, and consists of OF ILLINOIS larger-than-life sculptures depicting the reac- TRIBUTE TO BISHOP GREGORY IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES tion of 76 mothers, sisters, daughters, wives, MANSOUR and relatives as they responded with shock Monday, October 1, 2007 and grief upon learning of the death of their HON. DALE E. KILDEE Mr. WELLER of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I loved ones after the 1988 terrorist bombing of OF MICHIGAN rise today to honor a true American war hero Pan Am flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES whom I had the pleasure to meet recently. Mrs. Lowenstein’s son, Alexander, was one of Retired Air Force COL James Kasler of Monday, October 1, 2007 35 Syracuse University students aboard that Momence, Illinois, represents the uncommon flight. Mr. KILDEE. Madam Speaker, I rise to day courage that is found in our military men and Sadly, the creation of Dark Elegy spanned a to honor the Most Reverend Gregory John women. His distinguished record of service in- growing number of terrorist attacks around the Mansour on the 25th anniversary of his ordi- cludes 76 awards for valor and service, and world. It is a striking and solemn coincidence nation. Bishop Mansour will be honored at Di- Colonel Kasler has the distinction of being the that this work of art was dedicated on Sep- vine Liturgy and festivities on Sunday, October only person in our country’s history, dead or tember 11, 1991—exactly 1 decade before the 7th in my hometown of Flint, Michigan. alive, to receive the Air Force Cross 3 times. terrorist attacks against the United States on After graduating from Western Michigan His career as a decorated combat pilot September 11, 2001. If you are not familiar University in 1977, Gregory Mansour entered began as a B–29 tail gunner over Japan in with Dark Elegy, I ask you to view ‘‘Remem- Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Seminary in World War II. He went on to become a jet ace bering the Moment,’’ which will tell you more Washington, DC and attended Catholic Uni- in Korea, and showed remarkable bravery vol- about the legacy of Dark Elegy than any writ- versity of America. Graduating with a degree unteering for bombing runs in Vietnam. ten statement could ever convey and can be in Theological Studies in 1981, he was or- On his 91st mission, in Vietnam, Colonel accessed at the following website: dained a priest on September 18, 1982 by Kasler was shot down while covering for his www.darkelegy103.com. Bishop John Chedid at St. Michael in downed wingman. He would go on to endure Dark Elegy was created to remind the world Flint. He celebrated his first at 61⁄2 years in a Vietnamese prison camp, and of the devastation that terrorism leaves in its Our Lady of Lebanon and would become a role model for his fellow pris- wake. It will serve as a lasting testament to then traveled to Rome to continue his studies oners, including Senator JOHN MCCAIN of Ari- the victims of terrorism worldwide in the earning his License in Spiritual Theology from zona and a member of this House, Represent- unending struggle to eradicate this menace the Gregorian Pontifical Institute. ative SAM JOHNSON of Texas. from the globe. In addition, it is intended to Returning from a trip to Lebanon in 1983, James Kasler is the face of the valor that all stand as a beacon for all peace-loving people Father Mansour began his work as a our veterans demonstrated when they put on throughout the world to unite. priest. He worked as an administrator at St. the uniform of our armed forces. Recently I Madam Speaker, it is my goal to help find Parish in Philadelphia and served 11 had the honor of delivering the keynote ad- a permanent home for Dark Elegy that can be years as to St. George Maronite Catho- dress at the dedication of the Kasler-Momence visited by as many people from as many na- lic Church in Uniontown, Pennsylvania. Bishop Veterans Park in my district, where I met the tions as possible. From its current display in John Chedid tapped him to serve as the colonel. This park will serve to honor all those my district, this memorial has assumed a ’s , , and veterans who served and those future vet- unique role in both healing and remembrance Chancellor for the newly formed Eparchy of erans who are currently serving. Hundreds of for many individuals and families. It has been Our Lady of Lebanon in Los Angeles in 1994. thousands of military personnel go about their visited by families affected by terrorism includ- He also served as Advocate/Procurator for the task every day without complaint, often far ing families of the victims of the September Eparchial Marriage Tribunal. from their families and in hostile conditions— 11th attacks and by families of murdered chil- His Beatitude Nasrallah Peter Car- and too many don’t make it home. Their serv- dren whose loss, while not terrorism-related, dinal Sfeir nominated him to and ice keeps us free. was equally painful. It is through their voices he was ordained on January 21, 1996. When I am proud to have COL James Kasler as that the Lowensteins repeatedly heard, and Bishop Chedid retired his replacement, Bishop a constituent, and proud to have been associ- continue to hear, the expressed belief that Robert J. Shaheen, with the concurrence of ated with the veterans’ memorial that bears Dark Elegy should be placed somewhere the Holy See, moved the See of the Diocese his name. I ask my colleagues to join me in prominent where people from all over the from Los Angeles to St. Louis, Missouri. honoring him and all war heroes of the past, world can visit and experience it themselves. Chorbishop Mansour relocated and assumed present, and future. It is important to note that establishing this the additional duties as of St. Raymond f memorial would not cost taxpayers any addi- Cathedral and began teaching Spiritual The- tional public funds. Once a permanent location ology at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary. ESTABLISHING A MEMORIAL TO is found, the artist and her family will donate When Bishop Stephen Hector Douelhi re- ALL VICTIMS OF TERRORISM the memorial to the public. Also, the artist and tired, John Paul II named her family will personally finance the casting of Bishop Mansour to succeed him as the head HON. TIMOTHY H. BISHOP each figure in bronze assuring the longevity of of the Eparchy of Maron in Brooklyn. Or- OF NEW YORK the sculptures that make up the memorial. It is dained a bishop in Lebanon on March 2, IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES their strong belief that this is an appropriate 2004, he was enthroned in Our Lady of Leb- use of the money paid to them from the Liby- anon Maronite Cathedral in Brooklyn on April Monday, October 1, 2007 an Government following the Pan Am 103 27, 2004. Mr. BISHOP of New York. Madam Speaker tragedy in 1988. Madam Speaker, throughout his life Bishop I rise to introduce a bill that would designate Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to Mansour has followed the words of St. Augus- a permanent location in Washington, DC, for a please join me in cosponsoring this legislation, tine, ‘‘With you I am a Christian, for you I am memorial known as Dark Elegy, dedicated to and I call upon the committees of jurisdiction

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