[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 47 (Wednesday, April 26, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E616]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          HONORING DON DeHART

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MICHAEL BILIRAKIS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 26, 2006

  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Don DeHart, a 
compassionate and caring man who dedicated his life to helping those in 
need.
  Don DeHart grew up in Indiana and quickly became an indispensable 
part of his father's construction business. He earned three engineering 
degrees and became the general manager of a successful road 
construction firm. Don also volunteered as a pastor in remote rural 
areas, but became restless because, as his wife Eva said, ``he felt 
there was more to God's work than thicker cushions on pew seats.''
  Don and Eva began making mission trips to help impoverished Haitians 
in the late 1960s. They eventually co-founded ``For Haiti With Love,'' 
a charity dedicated to providing much needed medical and other services 
to poor Haitians. The DeHarts eventually moved to Florida to be closer 
to their mission work.
  The DeHarts built a small medical clinic which helped provide basic 
medical services to some of Haiti's neediest people. Though he was not 
trained as a medical doctor, Don quickly became an expert on treating 
bums, which are quite common in Haiti, saving many lives in the 
process. The DeHarts also helped nourish some of the country's poorest 
residents in Cap Haitien, Haiti's second-largest city.
  Don befriended one of his patients, a young girl named Roseline, who 
had a crippling spinal condition. Don and Eva brought her to America 
for surgery, and when her mother died, adopted her. Roseline, now 22, 
graduated from one of the fine high schools in my congressional 
district and has taken over her adoptive father's mission.
  Mr. Speaker, Don DeHart left this earthly life on April 15 after a 
long battle against cancer, a disease he had beaten several decades 
ago. Don lived a life of service and compassion, leaving no doubt that 
the world is a much better place for having had him in it. I hope his 
friends and family can take comfort knowing that his legacy will live 
on long after our warm words of remembrance are forgotten. May he rest 
in peace and may God watch over his family and those he dedicated his 
life to helping.

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