[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 190 (Wednesday, December 12, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2553]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




HONORING THE 90TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING OF FATHER FLANAGAN'S BOYS 
                                  TOWN

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. LEE TERRY

                              of nebraska

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 12, 2007

  Mr. TERRY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the founding of 
Father Flanagan's Boys Town 90 years ago today in Omaha, NE. Father 
Flanagan came to Omaha as a frail Catholic priest determined to make a 
difference and he found his calling in caring for, educating and 
housing orphaned boys. Father Flanagan's attitude can best be summed up 
by his famous aphorism ``there are no bad children.'' He firmly 
believed this and it became the basis of the work of Boys Town.
  Another aphorism attributed to the children of Boys Town is: ``He 
ain't heavy Father, he's m'brother.'' This simple statement encompasses 
what we all know--that with help from our peers and our Creator we can 
bear any burden to help those in need.
  The difference Father Flanagan made in the lives of young people 
resonates to this day. Because of Father Flanagan's commitment to 
improving the lives of children, Boys Town now assists homeless or at-
risk children in 14 States as well as the District of Columbia. In 
fact, last year approximately 450,000 children and families found help 
through Boys Town National Hotline. This number includes 34,000 calls 
from youth where hotline staff intervened to save a life or provide 
counseling. These numbers are truly impressive for one organization.
  Father Flanagan's work even lead to the production of the movie Boys 
Town starring Spencer Tracy and Mickey Rooney, for which Spencer Tracy 
earned the Academy Award. Using the fame generated by the Academy Award 
winning movie, Father Flanagan expanded his work on the welfare of 
children beyond the United States and traveled to Japan and Korea in 
1947 to study child welfare problems. He made a similar trip to Austria 
and Germany, and while in Germany he died on May 15, 1948 of a heart 
attack. He was buried in the Dowd Chapel at Boys Town.
  Madam Speaker, without Father Flanagan and his dedicated work, which 
continues through Boys Town, our Nation would be a poorer place 
spiritually. I believe that Father Flanagan's Boys Town is an excellent 
example of the positive impact faith-based institutions can have on our 
society. Father Flanagan's Boys Town is now Father Flanagan's Girls & 
Boys Town to reflect the fact that it serves all children.
  I commend their continued commitment to the children of this Nation 
and believe they deserve the recognition of Congress on the celebration 
of the 90th Anniversary of Boys Town's founding.

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