[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
____________________