May 8, 2012 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E727 his Senior Awards Night. He will also be re- service Luke Nachbar gave to his country and of educators, teachers, and parents, Jim ceiving his diploma on June 3, 2012. community and to share with his family and founded the Hamilton High School Academy Aime now plans to attend Broward College friends our deep sense of loss. of Music, which is now the largest comprehen- to study Criminal Justice. When he graduates f sive performing arts magnet program in the from the refugee program at 22 years old he western United States. The Music Academy is has the possibility of obtaining U.S. citizen- IN RECOGNITION OF THE RETIRE- now a treasure in our school system. For ship. Aime has grown from an orphan in the MENT OF GENERAL ANN E. 1,000 students every year, it is a special place Democratic Republic of the Congo to hopefully DUNWOODY with a richly diverse campus that provides becoming a U.S. citizen in the very near fu- world class arts education that transforms ture. He is the epitome of the American HON. MO BROOKS lives. dream, and an inspiration to us all. OF ALABAMA Mr. Berk’s commitment to the students of Mr. Speaker, I am honored to pay tribute to IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Hamilton High deepened when he was ap- Mr. Aime Kalangwa and I ask my colleagues Tuesday, May 8, 2012 pointed Principal of the Alexander Hamilton to join me in recognizing this outstanding indi- High School Complex in 1990. He became the vidual. Mr. BROOKS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to youngest principal in the history of the Los An- f pay tribute to General Ann E. Dunwoody, geles Unified School District, and in that posi- Commanding General, U.S. Army Materiel IN HONOR OF LUKE STANTON tion he instituted an interdisciplinary curriculum Command, on the occasion of her retirement NACHBAR combining both academic studies with the following 37 years of exemplary service to the arts. During his tenure, an astounding 96 per- HON. SAM FARR United States Military. Being from Huntsville, cent of graduating seniors at Hamilton went on Alabama, home to Redstone Arsenal and U.S. to pursue higher education, attendance im- OF CALIFORNIA Army Material Command and as a Member of IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES proved an impressive 22 percent, hitting 94 the House Committee on Armed Services, I percent overall, and the schools rating jumped Tuesday, May 8, 2012 have had the honor of knowing General from the 34th percentile to the 81st in state Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to rec- Dunwoody and witnessing her patriotism and assessment scores. ognize the dimming of a great light in our dedication to this great Nation. This year, Hamilton High’s Academy of General Dunwoody’s service is marked by community. Luke Stanton Nachbar was a lov- Music is celebrating its 25th year. At a time many firsts. She is the 82nd Airborne Divi- ing husband and father and a vibrant spark for when so many arts and music programs in sion’s first female battalion commander, she is all those around him. He died last week of public schools are struggling, the community Fort Bragg’s first female general officer, she is cancer at the young age of forty six. His de- of support that has grown around Hamilton’s the Combined Arms Support Command’s first parture tears a hole in the fabric of the Mon- program is working to ensure that it has the female commander, she is our Nation’s first terey Bay Area community that I represent resources it needs to continue in its proud tra- female four-star general, and she is the U.S. here in Congress. While we all recognize the dition of excellence. In the 25 years since Jim Army Materiel Command’s first female com- pain and loss felt by his family, especially his Berk helped to make the Academy of Music a mander. These historic achievements forever young children, and wife, we will also feel his reality, it has maintained a reputation as a mark General Dunwoody as a true pioneer. loss in the public life of many communities. crown jewel of public arts education, even as General Dunwoody’s many stellar achieve- I first met Luke in 1996 when he came to he has carried his skills and dedication to ments in uniform, including her deployment to my Washington, DC, office as a freshly minted other endeavors. Monterey Institute of International Studies Saudi Arabia with the 82nd Airborne in the Mr. Berk’s long-standing commitment to our graduate and returned Peace Corps volunteer Persian Gulf War, are a tribute to her char- public schools was only the start of his many on a Sea Grant fellowship looking for a job. acter and ability, but she is admired most for contributions to our community and to the arts. Lost in the mists of time are the exact reasons her compassionate leadership and for the As the founding executive director of the Na- why we made the mistake of not hiring him. steadfast courage she has shown in the de- tional Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences But he soon landed a prime position with the fense of our Nation. General Dunwoody is, Foundation, he helped to shape the Founda- office of New Hampshire Senator Judd Gregg. first and foremost, a proud, fourth-generation tion’s commitment to cultivating an under- That job ultimately led the National Oceanic U.S. Army Soldier. standing and appreciation of the contribution and Atmospheric Administration to tap him as As General Dunwoody and her husband, that recorded music has made to American a specialist in Congressional Affairs for the Colonel Craig Brotchie (U.S. Air Force, Re- culture through musical events that engage Policy, Planning and Analysis division of tired), begin the next phase of their lives, I the recording community, as well as the gen- NOAA’s National Ocean Service based in want to express, on behalf of the American eral public. Mr. Berk later became President Monterey. In true Luke Nachbar fashion, he people, the warmest regards and heartfelt and CEO of Hard Rock Cafe´ International convinced his management that that he could gratitude of the Nation for all that they have where he also served as CEO of the Hard best accomplish the job from Monterey rather done and all that they are. Rock Foundation. Through the Foundation Mr. than Silver Spring. So Luke was able to build On behalf of all those touched by her serv- Berk helped to provide education, social action a career in national ocean policy while raising ice, we wish General Dunwoody good luck, grants, and thousands of hours of volunteer his children with his wife on the central coast good ground, and Godspeed. Army Strong! services to local charities and schools. on Monterey Bay. f Everybody who knew Luke recognized his Mr. Berk continues to make a difference in expansive and cheerful personality. He was JIM BERK the community through his current position as ever the optimist, which translated profes- CEO of Participant Media, an entertainment sionally into an unwavering can do attitude— HON. HOWARD L. BERMAN company that focuses on socially relevant, always an asset when dealing with Congress. OF CALIFORNIA commercially viable feature films, documen- taries, television, and digital media. During Mr. Personally, his optimism translated into sup- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Berk’s tenure, Participant Media launched port for the Detroit Tigers and love of poker. Tuesday, May 8, 2012 One could never fail to notice his presence in TakePart.com, a social action website that a room. He always made the company around Mr. BERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I along with hosts an extensive network of cause-related him more cheerful. Representative BASS of California are pleased sites covering an array of social issues as well The greatest tragedy of Luke’s early death to pay tribute to Mr. Jim Berk for his out- as ways for individuals to take action. The is his children’s loss of their father. Quinn, standing contributions to young people and company has also invested in Me to We, a so- Flint, and Rainn were the center of Luke’s life. education in the arts in our community. cial enterprise which promotes a socially re- No words can make up for their loss but I Mr. Berk began his impressive career in sponsible, globally-focused approach to living hope they never forget one important lesson public education at the age of twenty-one as for young people who want to help change the that Luke epitomized—one person can make a a music teacher at Carson High. He reopened world through their daily cht5ices as con- difference and make the world a better place. Carson’s music department and quickly built it sumers. I also want to offer my own personal condo- into one of the largest programs in the State Mr. Speaker and distinguished colleagues, lences to Luke’s wife, Seaberry Nachbar. of California. When he left Carson High, Jim we ask you to join us in recognizing Jim Berk Mr. Speaker, I know I speak for the whole went to Alexander Hamilton High School in for his years of service and dedication to arts House in expressing gratitude for the public Los Angeles. Together with a committed group education and our community. VerDate Mar 15 2010 07:02 May 09, 2012 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K08MY8.009 E08MYPT1 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with REMARKS E728 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks May 8, 2012 IN RECOGNITION OF THE MOBILE tianity and many more.