[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 133 (Wednesday, September 29, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Page S7671]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      THANKING DR. BARRY C. BLACK

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, before we get into the business of the day, 
I wish to take a minute, while the Chaplain of the Senate is here, 
Admiral Black, to comment on really a remarkable afternoon. Ted 
Stevens, who served in the Senate for many decades, was laid to rest 
yesterday at Arlington National Cemetery. It was strictly a military 
funeral--caissons came down the hill, the casket was over the grave.
  The only speaking at the event was from the Senate Chaplain. It was 
very good, very spiritual. The setting was wonderful. It was a 
beautiful fall day. There were hundreds of people there. The Chaplain, 
with this booming voice he was given at birth, was able to do it 
without any amplification whatsoever. It was very nice.
  The one thing that was stunning to everyone there was that the 
Chaplain said, ``I am now going to recite,'' and he went through about 
eight or nine passages in the Bible. He named which passages he was 
going to recite--one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight--and 
then proceeded to do it without a note, without anything. It was 
remarkable. It reminded me so much of Senator Byrd because he also had 
that ability, the ability to remember. I am sure, for those of us 
there, it looked so easy for the Chaplain to do that, but I am sure he 
prepared as he did as a young boy, learning these verses of Scripture 
for his mother and grandmother.
  While he is here on the floor, I wish to express my appreciation to 
him. But the appreciation is from everyone who was there who is not 
capable of doing that because they don't have the ability to speak. So 
I say to my friend the Chaplain, we appreciate your spiritual 
leadership of the Senate and your remarkable qualities as a person.

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