[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 74 (Tuesday, June 3, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S5197]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

                                 prayer

  The Chaplain, Dr. Lloyd John Ogilvie, offered the following prayer:
  Almighty God, Sovereign of this Nation and Lord of our lives, in each 
period of our history, You have blessed us with great leaders who have 
exemplified love for You and dedication to our country. Today we 
celebrate such a man. Thank You for Strom Thurmond. By Your grace he 
has become a legend in his own time, not just for the quantity, but 
also for the quality of years of service here in the Senate. On May 25, 
we all were moved by the fact that this distinguished Senator became 
the longest serving Senator in the Nation's history. Today we join with 
all Americans in gratitude for 41 years, 10 months of faithful 
leadership. You have blessed him to be a blessing to his beloved South 
Carolina and to the Nation as a whole through the decades. We cherish 
our friendship with him and admire his patriotism. And Lord, he's 
pressing on with the drumbeat of Your spirit beating out the cadences 
of his indefatigable commitment to the American dream.
  Father, we thank You for Senator Thurmond's intellect, keen grasp of 
issues, courage to speak his convictions, and untiring loyalty to his 
Senate assignments. We marvel at his health, vigor, resiliency, and 
stamina. But most of all, we praise You for the personal ways he has 
inspired each of us. He's an affirmer who spurs us on by his words of 
encouragement. Your spirit of caring and concern for individuals shines 
through this remarkable man.
  Gracious God, may the love and esteem we express this morning spur on 
the Senator in his leadership for years to come. Through Christ our 
Lord and Saviour. Amen.

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