[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 1 (Thursday, January 4, 2007)]
[House]
[Page H42]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING DEREK RYAN KEHOE
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Dent) is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. DENT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak of a courageous young
man from my district, and of his friends and family and supporters, who
are trying to use his untimely demise to help make the world a better
place.
Derek Ryan Kehoe graduated from Nazareth High School in 2005, which
this high school is located in Nazareth, Pennsylvania. And he was a
star player on the school's basketball team, a team he led to the
District 11 Tournament in 2005.
He was a freshman at Albright College when, in April of 2006, he
discovered a lump on his back. The lump turned out to be
leiomyosarcoma, or LMS as it is better known, a rare and deadly form of
cancer. LMS currently has no cure. And though Derek was a strong,
healthy 19-year-old, the disease overcame him, and he passed on on
October 28, 2006.
Throughout his illness, Derek was cheerful and encouraging, more
concerned with the feelings of those who came to see him than of his
own condition. On January 5, 2007, Derek's life will be commemorated at
half time of the Nazareth High-Northampton High boys basketball game. A
full house is expected, and 150 of Derek's classmates are returning for
the event. All proceeds from the game will be earmarked to fight this
dreaded disease of LMS that took Derek away from us way too soon.
I want to extend my condolences to Derek's parents, Maureen Kehoe and
Kevin Kehoe. I also want to express my support for all the people who
have put together this event, including the Kehoes, the administration
of Nazareth Area High School, and the Nazareth High School Booster
Club. I also want to convey a special word of thanks to Nazareth
basketball coach Joe Arndt, who loved Derek as he would a son and who
played a key role in making this event a reality.
Mr. Speaker, I will insert a copy of these words into the
Congressional Record this 4th day of January, 2007, as part of the
effort to commemorate for all time the life of Derek Ryan Kehoe.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak of a courageous young man from my
District, and of his friends, family, and supporters who are trying to
use his untimely demise to help make the world a better place.
Derek Ryan Kehoe graduated from Nazareth High School in 2005 (in
Nazareth, PA) and was a star player on the school's basketball team, a
team he led to the District 11 Tournament in 2005. He was a freshman at
Albright College when, in April of 2006, he discovered a lump on his
back. The lump turned out to be leiomyosarcoma (LMS), a rare and deadly
form of cancer. LMS currently has no cure, and though Derek was a
strong, healthy 19-year old, the disease overcame him, and he passed on
October 28, 2006.
Throughout his illness, Derek was cheerful and encouraging, more
concerned with the feelings of those who came to see him than with his
own condition. On January 5, 2007, Derek's life will be commemorated at
the halftime of the Nazareth High-Northampton High boys basketball
game. A full house is expected, and 150 of Derek's classmates are
returning for the event. All proceeds from the game will be earmarked
to fight this dreaded disease of LMS that took Derek away from us way
too soon.
I want to extend my condolences to Derek's parents, Maureen Kehoe and
Kevin Kehoe. I also want to express my support for all the people who
have put together this event, including the Kehoes, the administration
of Nazareth Area High School, and the Nazareth High Booster Club. I
also want to convey a special word of thanks to Nazareth basketball
coach Joe Arndt, who loved Derek as he would a son, and who played a
key role in making this event a reality.
Mr. Speaker, I ask that a copy of these words be inserted into the
Congressional Record this 4th day of January 2007, as part of the
effort to commemorate, for all time, the life of Derek Ryan Kehoe.
____________________