[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 6]
[Senate]
[Page 7451]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



   75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SALVATION ARMY IN BENTON HARBOR, MICHIGAN

 Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, I rise today in honor of the 
Salvation Army in Benton Harbor, Michigan, which on May 20-21, 2000, 
will celebrate its 75th Anniversary. This event will conclude a very 
special week for the organization, as May 15-21, 2000, is also National 
Salvation Army Week, during which Americans have the opportunity to 
salute an organization that does so many things for so many people 
around the world.
  Mr. President, the mission of the movement remains the same as it was 
in 1865, when William and Catherine Booth formed an evangical group, 
and preached to people living in poverty on the east side of London: to 
preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name 
without discrimination. The organization, officially titled the 
Salvation Army in 1878, and its many adherents, soldiers, officers, and 
volunteers, remain dedicated to caring for the poor, feeding the 
hungry, clothing the naked, loving the unlovable, and befriending those 
who have no friends.
  In its 135 years, the Salvation Army has expanded from this small 
coalition of individuals in London into a multi-faceted, global 
organization. Its outreach currently extends to over 100 countries, and 
the Gospel is preached by its officers and soldiers in 160 languages. 
Each year, the organization assists over 27 million individuals. In the 
United States alone, there are 1.7 million volunteers, 470,000 
Salvationists, 5,339 officers, and 43,000 employees serving the 
Salvation Army.
  Amid such statistics I fear it is easy to overlook the essential fact 
that the foundation of the Salvation Army lies at the community level. 
It is an organization based in communities, whose volunteers, officers 
and employees are primarily concerned with helping members of their own 
community in the name of Jesus Christ. Whether it be through summer 
camps, day care centers, services for senior citizens, shelters for 
battered wives and children, drug rehabilitation, or family and career 
counseling, where there is a Salvation Army, there are people working 
hard to improve their community.
  With this in mind, Mr. President, I applaud the officers, 
Salvationists, volunteers and employees of the Salvation Army in Benton 
Harbor, whose efforts over the years have had made this anniversary 
possible. On behalf of the entire United States Senate, I wish the 
Salvation Army in Benton Harbor a happy 75th birthday, and continued 
success in the future.

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