[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 77 (Wednesday, June 12, 2002)]
[House]
[Pages H3493-H3494]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORING MARTIN AND GRACIA BURNHAM

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Tiahrt) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. TIAHRT. Mr. Speaker, I humbly stand before you today to honor 
Martin and Gracia Burnham, who are pictured here in a photograph from 
over a year ago.
  Today is the day I had been looking forward to for over a year, a day 
when I could finally tell you that Martin and Gracia Burnham are no 
longer being held hostage by Muslim terrorists, but it is bittersweet.
  The Burnhams' captivity by Muslim terrorists in the Philippines is 
finally over at 377 days and on Monday, Gracia arrived home in Kansas 
and was joyfully reunited with her three children, Jeff, Mindy and 
Zach. But I am deeply saddened to tell you that Martin will not be 
returning to Kansas. Martin was mortally wounded in rescue and has gone 
on to be with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
  Martin was born in Wichita, Kansas, on September 19, 1959, the eldest 
son of Paul and Oreta Burnham, who served as missionaries and now 
reside in Rose Hill, Kansas, just outside of Wichita. Gracia is 
daughter of Reverend Norvni and Betty Jo Jones of Arkansas. Martin and 
Gracia met at Calvary Bible College in 1982 and were married in 1983. 
In 1986 they went to the Philippines where they have been and since 
have served as missionaries with the New Tribes Mission.
  Martin and Gracia's three children, Jeff, 15; Mindy, 12; and Zach, 
11, were all born in the Philippines. During their years of service, 
Martin was chief pilot for New Tribes Mission. He flew supplies to 
missionaries in remote locations, and Gracia assisted in a variety of 
roles supporting New Tribes Mission aviation program. Martin has been

[[Page H3494]]

commended as a skillful pilot but is known more for his friendliness 
and strong faith.
  Gracia is appropriately named, and I have heard stories from her 
loved ones over the past few years and found them to be true when I had 
a chance to meet her on this Monday. I was in complete awe of her 
boundless spirit and vivaciousness. It was her grace and peace, 
however, that truly amazed me. I could feel the presence of God within 
her. It is no wonder that Martin and Gracia have touched so many hearts 
or that so many people across the world have been involved in efforts 
to free them.
  Martin and Gracia were captured last May while on vacation to 
celebrate their 18th wedding anniversary. They were taken hostage and 
held for ransom because they were Americans. But Martin and Gracia's 
ministry did not end with their capture by terrorists. During the past 
year, they never lost their faith or joy of life despite their frail 
condition and the terror they endured.
  Fellow captives who were freed earlier spoke of their love and 
strength. Martin and Gracia comforted their fellow hostages, shared 
their food and supplies, and helped raise their spirits through 
singing, telling stories and even reciting recipes.
  Gracia became a mother figure to her fellow hostages, and Martin 
always graciously offered to carry things for both terrorists and other 
hostages. Martin and Gracia praised God and thanked Him for each day. 
Martin even reached out to the terrorists and tried to show them the 
ways of Christ. He constantly prayed for them.
  On June 7 before Martin's death, he and Gracia prayed together and 
thanked God for his faithfulness and lay down for a nap. Martin stated, 
``We might not leave this jungle alive but at least we can leave this 
world serving the Lord with gladness.'' He left the world serving the 
Lord with gladness and Gracia continues to do so.
  I also want to honor Martin's parents, Paul and Oreta Burnham. For 
the past year they have taken care of Jeff, Mindy, and Zach. They have 
worked tirelessly to do all they can to bring Martin and Gracia home. I 
have been impressed with their humbleness, their strength and their 
faith. The Burnham family has shown us the power of faith and love. As 
Rhonda Holman, editorial writer for the Wichita Eagle said, 
``Confronted by humanity at its most evil, they exemplified humanity at 
its best, responding not with fear and despair, but with unflagging 
hope. As they adjust to bittersweet events of Friday, may the Burnhams 
realize how deeply they have touched and inspired us with their 
strength.''
  Over the past year, many of us who never met Martin and Gracia came 
to know and love them. We often felt helpless. Our prayers were heard 
by the Burnhams as Gracia told us in her first statement to the world 
following her captivity, she said, ``We want to thank each and every 
one of you for every time you remembered us in prayer. We needed every 
single prayer you prayed for us during our ordeal in the jungle.''
  The outcome was not what I had hoped for or worked for or prayed for 
but I believe our prayers did make a difference. Please continue to 
pray for the Burnham family and their family and friends.
  In closing let me share a couple of stanzas from a poem written by a 
friend of the Burnhams, Ted Miller. It is called the ``Final Score.'' 
The poem goes, ``We thought of you both every day, wondered what it was 
like, guns shooting, grenades going off, an all day jungle hike. It may 
be over in the jungle, but it will not all be left behind. May God pour 
out more grace on you and give you peace of mind.
  ``Martin said if he had to go, a martyr would be the way. Enjoy it 
Martin, we will join you soon, just one last thing to say. If bin 
Laden's bunch is keeping score, you may have killed my hero, but let me 
tell you the final score, Heaven one, terrorists zero.''
  Mr. Speaker, the poem in its entirety is as follows:

                              Final Score

       We all know Martin and Gracia, even if we have never met.
       They were on our radios, church prayer requests, on our TV 
     sets.
       I remember that famous video, in my mind it's still 
     planted,
       All Gracia wanted was privacy, things I take for granted.
       We all could probably confess, we never seem content,
       That little short video changed my life, you can not know 
     what it meant.
       All this was no accident, this last year fits Gods plan,
       While we were in our comfort zone, The Burnhams hid and 
     ran.
       But Gracia let me tell you, through all the hunger and 
     pain,
       We have grown closer to the Lord as one, no one died in 
     vain.
       Your families have held the ropes for you, they always did 
     their best,
       They pleaded for prayers, pleaded for help, never seem to 
     rest.
       We always knew how to pray for the kids, constant specific 
     updates,
       The things they missed about mom and dad, Gracia your funny 
     cakes.
       All these things that seem so small, your kids did not let 
     go,
       What a testimony they have been, as time passed so slow.
       We thought of you both everyday, wondered what it was like,
       Guns shooting, grenades going off, an all day jungle hike.
       It may be over in the jungle, but it will not all be left 
     behind,
       May God pour out more grace on you and give you peace of 
     mind.
       Thanks for the opportunity to pray for you, what a blessing 
     that it was,
       God is still on the throne, we are excited to see what he 
     does.
       I thought of Gracia and Martin, shot, wounded on the 
     ground,
       As Martin slipped off to be with God, I think he heard this 
     sound.
       Thousands of angels welcoming him home, then there is the 
     SON,
       Welcome home Martin Burnham, well done my child well 
     done!!!
       Martin said if he had to go, a martyr would be the way,
       Enjoy it Martin, we will join you soon, just one last thing 
     to say.
       If Bin Ladens bunch is keeping score, you may have killed 
     my hero,
       But let me tell you the final score, Heaven one, Terrorists 
     zero--Ted Miller

                          ____________________