[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 113 (Thursday, July 26, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1343]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             HONORING 2012 OLYMPIC COMPETITOR LOPEZ LOMONG

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. ANN MARIE BUERKLE

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 26, 2012

  Ms. BUERKLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a native of my 
district and 2012 Olympic competitor, Lopez Lomong.
  Lopez Lomong was born in Kimotong, a small village in southern Sudan 
in 1985. Lopez had a happy childhood until one day, when he was 6 years 
old, his whole life was turned upside down. His village was attacked 
while he was attending church, and Lopez was taken by rebel soldiers 
from the Sudan People's Liberation Army. After weeks of watching other 
boys slowly die in the rebel camp, Lopez was able to escape through a 
hole in the fence with the help of three other boys. Lopez and these 
boys ran for three days through the African plains until they reached 
Kenya and were placed in a refugee camp.
  Lopez would spend the next 10 years in this refugee camp, attending 
``school,'' playing soccer and trying to survive day to day on the 
small rations that were provided to the boys. One day, when Lopez was 
16, the opportunity of a lifetime arose. Lopez wrote an essay to the 
Catholic Charities about what he would do if he were able to come to 
the U.S. His essay moved the people at Catholic Charities so much that 
he became one of the Lost Boys of Sudan who were relocated to the 
United States to begin a new life.
  Leaving Africa behind, Lopez found himself an adopted member of the 
Rodgers family in Tully, New York, a stark contrast from the plains of 
Africa. To feel at home, Lopez would go on long runs, as he had done in 
Kenya, and he drew the attention of his high school cross country 
coach. It was here that his running career began. Lopez showed immense 
potential and went on from New York to Northern Arizona University 
where he won two NCAA championships.
  In 2007, Lopez became a professional runner and in 2008, after 
becoming a U.S. citizen, he made the Olympic team, proudly representing 
his new country, the U.S.A. At the Beijing Olympics Lopez was voted by 
his fellow countrymen to carry the U.S. flag into the opening 
ceremonies, and he went on to perform well, making it to the semi-
finals of the 1500m.
  In addition to his athletic achievement, Lopez has a heart and 
passion to see peace in the country of his birth that continues to be 
ravaged by civil war. Lopez's desire is to spread the word about what 
is happening in Sudan and to build a community center to give hope and 
opportunities to people who started out just like him.
  At the 2012 Olympic Games in London, Lopez will once again represent 
the United States. I have no doubt that he will once again honorably 
and nobly represent our country as a member of the Olympic team.
  Like so many others I am truly inspired by Lopez's story. I 
congratulate him on his success and thank him for his continued efforts 
on behalf of his home country of the South Sudan.

                          ____________________