[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 150 (Tuesday, August 24, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E926]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF KELSEY BEGAYE

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                          HON. TOM O'HALLERAN

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, August 24, 2021

  Mr. O'HALLERAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of 
Kelsey Begaye, the fifth president of the Navajo Nation, who passed 
away this month at the age of 70.
  A Vietnam veteran, a devoted public servant, and a leader in faith, 
Kelsey Begaye served his country, his community, and his people for 
decades.
  In 1969, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving in Vietnam as a 
specialist fourth radio operator for four years.
  In the years that followed, he brought dedication and compassion to 
his work as a substance abuse counselor, a representative of the 
Kaibeto Chapter in the Navajo Nation Council, and as the fifth 
president of the Navajo Nation.
  Through countless roles, he leaves behind a legacy of faith and a 
fierce desire to change the lives of those living in his community for 
the better.
  My wife and I are keeping Mr. Begaye's family, loved ones, and the 
Navajo Nation in our prayers as we mourn his passing.

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