[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 14 (Tuesday, February 24, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E214-E215]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          1998 CONGRESSIONAL OBSERVANCE OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. JOHN F. TIERNEY

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 11, 1998

  Mr. TIERNEY. Mr. Speaker, while we celebrate the many accomplishments 
and contributions that African Americans have brought to our diverse 
country this month, I would like to bring to the attention of my 
colleagues an individual whose spiritual faith and dedication to inner-
city children has been an inspiration to many.
  Rev. Walter Murray graduated from Harvard School of Divinity in 1986 
and for the past eight years, has been Pastor at Zion Baptist

[[Page E215]]

Church in Lynn, Massachusetts. During his tenure at Zion Baptist he 
founded the ``Inroads New England'' program and provided transportation 
to inner-city children who otherwise would not be able to attend 
program events. Last fall, Rev. Murray was honored for his work with 
Inroads New England.
  The co-founder of the Essex County Community Organization, Rev. 
Murray also helped create the Jump Start program in the basement of his 
church, which provided after-school activities for latchkey children. 
He is a member of the Swampscott, Massachusetts Rotary Club and has 
assisted in the development of youth leadership weekends. He has been 
honored with the Massachusetts Ecumenical Council of Churches award for 
Ecumenism, the First Decade Award from Harvard Alumni Association, and 
the Childrens Defense Fund National Achievement Award.
  Frederick Douglass once said, ``I cannot allow myself to be 
insensitive to the wrongs and suffering of any part of the great family 
of man.'' Rev. Murray personifies the words of the great abolitionist 
and civil rights leader through his selfless dedication and spiritual 
devotion the children who are often neglected and forgotten. His work 
has touched the lives of hundreds of children and adults and he 
continues to influence more and more individuals every day. In our 
lifetime, we are fortunate to know at least one person with such 
philanthropic commitment, and as we commemorate Black History Month, I 
am honored to call Rev. Murray a constituent, a dear friend, and an 
individual who truly represents the achievements of African Americans 
to our society.

                          ____________________