[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 48 (Tuesday, April 16, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E532]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO ADAM DARLING

                                 ______


                             HON. SAM FARR

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 15, 1996

  Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, for any parent, the death of a 
child is surely life's greatest tragedy. I can personally remember the 
profound grief and gloom that swept over my own father and family when 
my youngest sister Nancy was tragically killed following a horseback 
riding accident in Colombia, where I served in the Peace Corps more 
than 30 years ago. Even now, not a day goes by that my family does not 
sorely miss Nancy and regret the fact that she did not live longer, 
though we all know she led a magnificent life while she was with us.
  The same sentiment, I am sure, will be true for the family of Santa 
Cruz resident Adam Darling, who left this world last week with Commerce 
Secretary Ron Brown and 32 other brave Americans in an ill-fated flight 
over Bosnia. Adam died doing precisely what he wanted: Serving his 
country, while working to make the world a better place. The eternal 
optimist, Adam had once offered to ride his bike cross-country from his 
home in Santa Cruz to Washington, DC for then Governor Bill Clinton 
because he felt he could make a difference in the 1992 presidential 
race. After the election, he ended up in Washington working in the 
Commerce Department. When I arrived to be sworn in as a Member of 
Congress, Adam was there to meet me. He brought his father, the 
Reverend Darrell Darling from Santa Cruz with him to all of our 
Washington activities. According to Darrell, ``Adam Darling was a 
leader among his peers, his friends, his family and in his work. His 
leadership grew from a keen and uncluttered mind, a character free of 
shame, given or received, and a thoroughly generous spirit. He was very 
realistic about both public policy and public service, and the 
limitations and temptations of both. Adam's realism never became 
cynical. When you decide to make a difference where there is risk, you 
can't calculate the cost or be guaranteed delivery from pain or loss. 
Bosnia is a land of grief and turmoil and none of us is immune.''
  At the Commerce Department, Adam served as staff in the press office 
for several months before becoming a personal assistant to the Deputy 
Secretary of Commerce for 2 years. Adam was also instrumental in 
bringing state-of-the art science to Central Coast and the country. 
Just 1 year ago, he helped organize the first-ever link between 
classrooms across America and marine biologists working in the Monterey 
Bay. Ron Brown had recently asked Adam to handle press relations and 
advance planning for the economic development mission in Bosnia. 
According to his family, ``Adam saw it as an opportunity to make a 
significant contribution to a peace effort where it is severely 
needed.''
  Rather than working hard to gain personal attention, Adam worked hard 
for the sheer pleasure of doing a job well and the satisfaction of 
knowing he had helped make someone else's life a little more livable. 
He was one of the many invisible government hands working in Bosnia to 
ensure the survival of a nation. Amazing acts of heroism, dedication, 
and humanitarianism exemplify the work done by those invisible hands. 
Without people like those who served, continue to serve and will serve 
their country by helping others, the world would be hard pressed to 
survive tragedies such as the Bosnia conflict.
  Adam too saw life as an opportunity to serve the world. Telling his 
family at the age of five that he would be President of the United 
States some day, a young boy made his commitment to bettering his 
country at any cost. During the few years he was afforded, Adam worked 
with the dedication and commitment of a President, and accomplished 
more for the good of humankind during his lifetime than many even 
attempt in 100 years.
  The loss of Adam Darling and the 34 others in Bosnia will be sorely 
felt by all and will remain in our hearts as a memorial to all who pay 
the highest cost possible in order to help the world by serving their 
country.

                          ____________________