[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 114 (Wednesday, September 5, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1579]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     HONORING LUIS RAUL CERNA-BACA

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENJAMIN A. GILMAN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, September 5, 2001

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to honor the life and 
charitable spirit of my good friend, a loyal patriot, Luis Raul Cerna-
Baca.
  Born to an army colonel and a housewife in Camoapa, Nicaragua, Luis 
did not receive a formal education. However, his incredible thirst for 
knowledge, solid work ethic, and commitment to his family and fellow 
man, laid the foundation for a life of success, dedication, and 
charity, which serves as an example to us all of the determination of 
the human spirit.
  At an early age, Luis sought ingenious ways to make a living and to 
reading whatever books he was able to locate. Through hard work and 
personal sacrifice, Luis Raul Cerna-Baca rose to become a leading 
businessman and a member of the Nicaraguan Congress. His character, 
intellect, and dedicated spirit was respected by his colleagues, who 
sought his counsel and advice in the many matters facing his nation.
  A man of vision, Luis began to invest in the real estate, 
agriculture, mining industries, in which he found personal financial 
success. However, he never forgot how hard he had worked to succeed, 
those who had helped him, and those who had been left behind. A true 
humanitarian, his charitable spirit overtook him and he set out to help 
those in need throughout his country in any and every way possible. He 
donated scholarships, built housing and roads, and donated lands and 
funds to establish the ``Eliseo Picado Institute,'' In Matagalpa, 
Nicaragua, where more than five thousand students receive housing and 
education.
  In recognition of his humanitarian assistance, Mr. Cerna, now a U.S. 
citizen, has been honored with numerous awards and by leaders and 
dignitaries from throughout Nicaragua and the United States. In Miami, 
he was recognized for his assistance to immigrants from Nicaragua and 
around the world. In January of 2000, he was selected as one of the 
``Personalities of the 20th Century in Nicaragua,'' and was named 
benefactor of Matagalpa, Nicaragua. This October, Mr. Cerna will be 
awarded a Doctorate from the University of Nicaragua.
  In the years that I have worked with Luis Cerna, following the 
Sandanista revolution, to bring justice to the people of Nicaragua, I 
have had the pleasure of building a lasting friendship with him, his 
wife, and his family. The strength of his character, the commitment of 
his spirit, the kindness of his heart, and the hope that he holds for 
the people of Nicaragua, our nation, and our world, serves as a guiding 
light and a role model for his family, his community, and our nation.

                          ____________________