[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 7]
[Senate]
[Pages 9822-9823]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



            RECOGNITION OF JOHN SAUER--OLDER AMERICANS MONTH

  Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, since 1963, the month of May has helped 
the nation focus on the contributions and achievements of America's 
older citizens. Fewer people over the age of 65 require nursing home 
care and more are living on their own, with little or no outside help. 
Older Americans increasingly redefine modern maturity, re-shape 
cultural boundaries and dispel age-related stereotypes associated with 
getting older. They are leaders in our families, in our workplaces and 
in our communities.
  One of these leaders is a 76-year-old man from Mechanicsville, IA. 
John Sauer understands the value of helping others. Through his 
initiative, compassion and commitment, he has touched the lives of many 
in his community.
  Mr. Sauer began volunteering with the local seniors group in 1992. At 
that time, he responded to a request from a friend to help out with the 
group for a short time. Today, not only does he continue to volunteer 
in Cedar County, but he also serves seniors in six other counties as 
chairman of the advisory council of the Heritage Area Agency on Aging.
  Although Mr. Sauer has always been active in the community service, 
he took on many of his current activities after he retired from farming 
in 1994. At that time, Mr. Sauer became increasingly involved with 
county senior citizens groups. He joined the transportation board of 
the Cedar County Senior Citizens task force and began providing 
transportation for older people in his area who were unable to drive. 
Two or three times a week, Mr. Sauer drives seniors to and from doctor 
and hospital visits in Cedar Rapids and Iowa City, both 25 miles away 
from Mechanicsville. The service Mr. Sauer provides is invaluable to 
those people who otherwise would have no way to make those important 
visits.
  Mr. Sauer is also committed to serving the visually impaired. For 37 
years, Mr. Sauer has been an active member of Lions Club International, 
a service organization recognized for their help to the blind and 
visually impaired. In 1994, Mr. Sauer became an Iowa district director 
for the organization. In that position, he traveled around the United 
States and Canada representing the state at various meetings and events 
for the service club.
  In addition, Mr. Sauer has volunteered in the Opthamology Department 
at the University of Iowa Hospitals for the past 4 years. He greets 
people from across the Midwest who come to the hospital for care and 
guides them to their appointments. Mr. Sauer says he enjoys 
volunteering at the hospital because he likes meeting new people from 
various locations.
  Mr. Sauer also enjoys learning new things. Three years ago, he became 
a member of the Eastern Iowa Mutual Insurance Board. Although his 
background was not in insurance, Mr. Sauer accepted the challenge of 
serving on the board and has enjoyed learning about the industry. He's 
also been active in the local schools, serving as a member of the 
school board and most recently on the school foundation. In addition, 
Mr. Sauer is an active member in his church and in the American Legion.

[[Page 9823]]

  A devoted family man, Mr. Sauer has been married to his wife Kathleen 
for 51 years. The couple has three children and five grandchildren.
  I want to thank Mr. Sauer for his contributions to the people of 
Cedar County. His initiative and compassionate concern for others is an 
example to us all that we should always be willing to contribute, no 
matter what our age.

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