[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 13]
[Senate]
[Page 18082]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                         FATHER DAMIAN ZUERLEIN

  Mr. HAGEL. Mr. President, first, before we get on to today's 
schedule, I wish to commend my friend, the guest Chaplain, this 
morning. Father Damian is extended best wishes and thanks from this 
body. Father Damian and I share a few things in common. One is we 
graduated from the same high school just a few years apart--actually, 
Mr. President, many years apart. Father Damian had the unenviable task 
of trying to redefine the standards that my brothers and I debased at 
St. Bonaventure High School and Scotus High School in Columbus, NE--not 
an easy task but one that he achieved with great dignity and success.
  We are very proud of Father Damian for many reasons. He is pastor of 
two Catholic parishes in Omaha--St. Agnes and Our Lady of Guadalupe in 
south Omaha.
  Mr. President, you know a little bit about ethnic areas, coming from 
Colorado. Father Damian has done as much to bring the Hispanic 
community of Nebraska--indeed, middle America--together as any one 
individual I have known in the last few years, and he has done it with 
remarkable ability, with common sense and truth. People respect him not 
just because he wears the Lord's uniform but because he has done it the 
right way; he brings respect and dignity to all whom he touches; he 
conveys that as he deals with people. We are very proud of what he has 
been able to accomplish in our community and across the Midwest, aside 
from being nationally recognized for his achievements with many 
recognitions and honors. We are very proud to have him among us this 
morning.
  And again, on a personal note, it is wonderful to see Father Damian 
after making the trek to Washington. Under the able tutelage of our 
resident Chaplain, Dr. Lloyd Ogilvie, I know he has learned much this 
morning.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, will my friend from Nebraska yield for a 
moment?
  Mr. HAGEL. Yes.
  Mr. REID. I think it is appropriate to say in front of the good 
priest that people in Nebraska are well served by the two Senators who 
come from Nebraska. I am sure he is very proud of the work Senator 
Hagel and Senator Kerrey perform for Nebraska in the Senate.
  Mr. HAGEL. I thank the Senator. As a matter of fact, as the Senator 
knows, there was a little reception and party for my distinguished 
senior colleague, Senator Kerrey of Nebraska, last night. Father Damian 
was able to participate and extend his long arm of justice and 
spiritual guidance over that gathering, even in the midst of some 
bandits who attended. The real coup de grace of last night's event was 
the distinguished senior Senator from New York toasting our colleague, 
Senator Kerrey--an old Navy toast. I observed that I never believed 
that serving in the Navy was a particular virtue, but nonetheless he 
was toasted with the Senator's eloquent remarks.
  I thank the Senator.

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