[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 86 (Thursday, June 19, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6013-S6014]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                RECOGNITION OF REV. JOSEPH P. MCLAUGHLIN

 Mr. BIDEN. Mr. President, this Sunday, numerous students, 
parents, and alumni of my Alma Mater, Archmere Academy in Claymont, DE, 
will be gathering to honor the Rev. Joseph P. McLaughlin, O. Praem. 
who, during his 26 years as a teacher and headmaster at Archmere, has 
been more than a pillar of the academy. He has been a vital part of 
Archmere's spirit, and a tremendous influence In the lives of thousands 
of young women and men.
  One of the cliches that teenagers hear again and again is how their 
teen years are ``the best years of your lives''. Well, with all due 
respect, for most kids, it is not that simple. Too many adults have 
forgotten how those years are often filled with uncertainty and 
discomfort, as teenagers undergo

[[Page S6014]]

tremendous physical and emotional changes, have their values frequently 
called into question and their judgement tested beyond their 
experience, and must make major decisions which will impact the course 
of their entire lives and careers. At no other time in their lives are 
they forced to make so many major choices with so little experience and 
information upon which to base those choices. It is a time when 
guidance, understanding, and friendship are critical.
  For more than a quarter-century, young men and women of Archmere 
Academy, have counted upon Father McLaughlin for that guidance, 
understanding, and friendship. And he has always been there for them, 
guided by his own deep faith, sincerity, and lifelong experience in 
dealing with young people. Of course, we will never know many of the 
specific instances of Father McLaughlin's intervention, because he is 
the soul of discretion and modesty, but there are countless Archmereans 
who will tell you that when they needed an advisor, a mentor, a friend, 
Father McLaughlin was there for them.
  I graduated from Archmere before Father McLaughlin arrived, but my 
two sons attended the school during his tenure, and my daughter is 
currently an Archmere student. Each has had the utmost respect for his 
commitment, his wisdom, and his generosity of spirit, and all have 
benefitted from his years of dedicated service.
  Having been involved with the school as an alumnus and as a parent, I 
have seen firsthand Father McLaughlin's tireless efforts result in 
Archmere's becoming one of the premier high schools--not only in 
Delaware and the surrounding region, but nationally. It is obvious that 
he has succeeded splendidly. The school is truly the academic beacon on 
the hill envisioned by the school's founders, the Norbertines. Archmere 
historically has attracted students of all backgrounds, and turned out 
promising young scholars, and, most importantly, fine young men and 
women with solidly-rooted values and well-placed priorities.
  In the longstanding tradition of the late Father Justin E. Diny, 
Headmaster Emeritus, Father McLaughlin has long recognized that a 
school's success can not be measured solely by the test scores of its 
students, or by the number of graduates moving on to prestigious 
universities--though by either of those standards Archmere 
is unquestionably an unqualified success--but also by the character of 
the young men and women who pass through its gates. With his keen 
sensitivity for the Academy's rich history and tradition--``The 
Archmere Way'', as it is known on campus and throughout the community--
Father McLaughlin saw to it that Archmere graduates were solid, civic-
minded citizens with commitment and compassion as well as being 
outstanding scholars.

  As headmaster, Father McLaughlin has been admired for his personal 
decency, his quiet and gentlemanly way, his ability to listen to all 
sides before coming to a decision, and his vision for Archmere's 
mission and its future. He has long recognized that Archmere's future 
lies in its past, in terms of both history and tradition. In his belief 
that Archmere alumni--those who have had such a tradition imbued in 
their characters--should play a vital role in sustaining and nurturing 
the Academy's atmosphere, Father McLaughlin has uniquely enriched the 
lives of all those students who attended Archmere during his tenure. As 
a result of Father McLaughlin's genuine commitment to maintaining the 
unbroken chain--from Archmereans to Archers to Auks--past and present 
Archmere alumni continue contributing to the school community long 
after their campus years are over. It is my fervent hope that this 
tradition--the one for which Father McLaughlin worked so hard to 
perpetuate--the idea that an Archmere education is but the first step 
in a lifetime of involvement, will be a cornerstone of the Academy for 
all succeeding generations of Archmere students.
  Father McLaughlin will now redirect his tireless energies and many 
talents to his new position as novice master and formation director for 
the Daylesford Abbey, where he will continue in his familiar role as 
mentor and counselor, as he matures new members of his order, thus 
ensuring that his enthusiasm, dedication, and legacy of service to the 
community will be instilled in yet future generations of teachers, 
students, and community-minded men and women of faith. As he embarks 
upon that challenge, all of us who love Archmere and the traditions our 
alma mater stands for, wish our friend Father McLaughlin him well, for 
his service should be held up as an example and an inspiration for all 
who accept the challenge to teach America's youth.

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