[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 51 (Friday, April 19, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E590-E591]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   HAVERHILL GIRLS BASKETBALL CHAMPS

                                 ______


                        HON. PETER G. TORKILDSEN

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 18, 1996

  Mr. TORKILDSEN. Mr. Speaker, this morning I spoke on the floor 
praising the UMASS Minutemen basketball team--the best college 
basketball team in the country. Now I rise to applaud and celebrate the 
best women's basket ball team in Massachusetts--from Haverhill High 
School--on their championship win. These athletes have proven they 
possess the necessary edge to be champions and rightfully deserve 
heartfelt congratulations.
  On Saturday, March 16, 1996, at the Worcester Centrum in 
Massachusetts, Haverhill won its third consecutive Division I girls 
crown with a 74-46 victory over Pittsfield High School. With nine 
seniors leading the team to victory, UMASS-bound Kelly Van Heisen 
netted 12 points in the championship game.
  Other members of this championship team include Julie Szabo, Jaimie 
DeSimone, Samantha Good, Sara Jewett, Allison Godfrey, Julie Dirsa, 
Tricia Guertin, Cheryl Leger, Nicole Lacroix, Kelly Van Keisen, Melissa 
Rowe, Melissa Cerasuolo, Meghan Buckley, Heather Langlois and Caitlin 
Masys.
  Thirteen-year head coach Kevin Woeflel had led his teams to win six 
State titles in the last 10 years, finished second twice and has a 
stunning overall record of 275-37, for a winning percentage of 88 
percent.
  To be a champion athlete requires dedication, perservance, skill and 
drive. The young women who make up this winning team possess all of 
these characteristics and combined them to produce a group of 
unbeatable champions.
  I'm very proud to have such an outstanding team from my district. 
Success in any field demands a great deal of commitment and hard work, 
and it's obvious from these championship victories that these women 
have what it takes to win.
  These incredibly talented young women have not only proven themselves 
to be the best this past season, but to possess a record of six 
championship wins in the past 10 years reflects the dedication of their 
coach, Mr.Kevin Woelfel. In the equation for success, effective 
leadership and guidance are as necessary as talent and commitment from 
the players.
  Once again, congratulations to this winning team, and I wish you 
nothing but continued success as you continue on to college and 
throughout the rest of your lives. You are excellent role models for 
those who follow in your footsteps, and you are outstanding 
representatives of both your school and the State of Massachusetts.

[[Page E591]]



               CONGRATULATIONS TO SIKHS ON VAISAAKHI DAY

                                 ______


                            HON. DAN BURTON

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 18, 1996

  Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 
297th celebration of Vaisaakhi Day, the birthday of the Sikh nation. On 
Vaisaakhi Day in 1699, Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth and last Guru of 
the Sikh religion, formally baptized the Sikhs into nationhood, 
creating the order of the Khalsa Panth.
  The Sikhs are a proud, hard-working, and freedom-loving people. At 
times they have prospered. At times they have persevered under immense 
tyranny. They have always conducted themselves according to the axiom 
uttered by Guru Gobind Singh: ``Recognize ye all the human race as 
one.''
  Sikhism is a monotheistic, independent religion that should not be 
confused with Hinduism or Islam. Sikhism dates back to the first of the 
ten Sikh Gurus, Guru Nanak, born in 1469. He laid the foundation of 
Sikhism by preaching a simple creed based on three principles: 1.) Pray 
daily, meditating on God's name; 2.) Work hard and earn an honest 
living by the sweat of your own brow--live a family life and practice 
honesty in all dealings, and 3.) Be charitable, sharing the fruits of 
your labor with others.
  Most importantly, the Guru instructed Sikhs to stand up against 
tyranny wherever it exists. On many occassions, Sikhs have lived up to 
this high calling, defending Hindus from the aggression of Mogul 
invaders from Afghanistan. Today Sikhs find themselves in a position of 
defending themselves from the brutal tyranny of the Indian Government. 
Over the past ten years, over 100,000 Sikhs have been killed by Indian 
security forces. Yet Sikhs continue to look to the spirit imbued in 
them on Vaisaakhi Day in 1699.
  Mr. Speaker, the Sikh people remain bloody but unbowed in the face of 
the campaign of murder, torture and rape being waged by the Indian 
military. Because of India's bloody rule, the Sikh people are seeking 
to exercise their right to self determination and declare an 
independent Sikh homeland. In October 1987, three years after India's 
bloody assault and massacre at the Golden Temple in Amritsar, every 
major Sikh political group joined together to issue a declaration of 
nationhood and independence.
  I ask all of my colleagues to support two pieces of legislation: H.R. 
1425. ``The Human Rights in India Act, which would cut off U.S. aid to 
India until it stops the human rights abuses; and House Resolutions 32, 
which would recognize the Sikh people's right to self-determination. 
America stands for freedom, human rights and democracy, and we should 
support these ideals.

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