[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 65 (Monday, April 23, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E827]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    IN RECOGNITION OF KEITH SORENSEN

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                        HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 23, 2007

  Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Keith 
Sorensen for 25 years of volunteer service with the Northeast Ohio 
YMCA. His inspirational work has made an impact on many lives in our 
community.
  Keith has never strayed too far from the water, and began his 
affiliation with the Southeast YMCA Riptide Swim Team as a student of 
Bedford High School. Upon graduation, Keith joined the United States 
Navy. As a sailor, Keith was a passionate leader and represented 
himself and our Country as a competitive swimmer.
  After completing his service to our Country, Keith continued to 
devote himself to helping the community. For 30 years, he worked as a 
frozen food manager for Reider's Stop-N-Shop, and was the daily 
lifeguard of his old alma mater, Bedford High School. In 1996, Keith 
assisted the head coach and together they trained a talented group of 
students who would go on to be Ohio High School Athletic Association 
Northeast District and State Swim Meet qualifiers.
  In addition to the countless hours Keith has dedicated to high school 
athletics, he has tirelessly spent the last 25 years coaching thousands 
of swimmers at the Southeast YMCA. Under Keith's direction as head 
coach, the YMCA focused on a program that stressed the importance of 
swimming fundamentals. As a result of his discipline and specialization 
in the breaststroke, many of his former students went on to have 
successful high school and collegiate swimming careers. Keith's 
commitment has not gone unnoticed; he has received numerous awards, 
most notably YMCA's Triangle Award by the YMCA of Greater Cleveland, 
and he was named ``CitiSun of the Year'' by the Sun newspapers for his 
volunteer work with the community. However, Keith's greatest 
accomplishment has been coaching his three daughters. Together, Keith 
and Maureen have watched their daughters set numerous records as 
swimmers for the Southeast YMCA and Bedford High School swim teams.
  Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honoring Keith 
Sorensen for his commitment to the Northeast Ohio community. His 
dedication is the embodiment of selflessness and he brings great pride 
to us all.

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