[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 19]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 26121]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              WENTWORTH MILITARY ACADEMY MEMORIAL SERVICE

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                            HON. IKE SKELTON

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 24, 2003

  Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, on Sunday, October 12, 2003, a memorial 
service was held on the campus of Wentworth Military Academy in 
Lexington, MO. Retired Lieutenant Colonel Jim Ahrens presided. This 
service paid tribute to the many Wentworth Alumni who served in the 
military and paid the ultimate sacrifice. I commend the remarks of 
Lieutenant Colonel Ahrens to this body.

                       Text for Memorial Service

       Invocation: Let us pray
       Almighty and most merciful God. Look with favor upon us 
     gathered here this morning--in thy presence--on this sacred 
     ground, and inspire our hearts and minds as we lovingly 
     celebrate the deeds of Wentworth Cadets, old boys, whose 
     sacrifices--blood, sweat, and tears--made in the name of 
     freedom and human dignity--shall stand forever as the 
     foundation stones of our great nation. Bless us now, O God, 
     that our thoughts, desires and deeds throughout this memorial 
     service may be inspired by You according to Your holy name. 
     Amen.


                         Introductory statement

       Friends: We gather here on this historic ground--this 
     sacred ground--Cadet Corps, old boys and their families, 
     Wentworth staff, faculty and friends--we gather here near the 
     Memorial Chapel, its entrance guarded by the Mooney 
     Memorial--just down this tree shaded hill from the doughboy 
     and the Hall of Honor--to remember, to honor and to return 
     thanks for Wentworth cadets who made the supreme sacrifice. 
     We gather to lovingly remember Wentworth old boys who gave 
     their lives in the service of their country. Today we are 
     particularly mindful of the vets we single them out now for 
     honor because, like other Wentworth old boys, they fought and 
     served and some died courageously. It is now their time--
     their turn--for special recognition.
       How thankful we are for their dedication, their loyalty, 
     perseverance--for their patriotism. How thankful we are for 
     their sacrifices made in the line of duty--in times of 
     terrible trial and tribulation--crisis--peril--times of 
     grievous suffering--times of war.
       Alumni from Wentworth have served in eight conflicts and 
     have sacrificed their lives in six of them.
       41 served in the Spanish American war and two died.
       3 are known to have served in the Philippine Insurrection 
     and one parished.
       At least 552 served in WW I and fourteen died, including 
     one faculty member.
       At least 813 served in WW II and 87 died, including another 
     faculty member.
       213 served in Korea and nine paid with their lives.
       We don't know exactly how many served in the Vietnam 
     conflict, but we know that eleven made the supreme sacrifice.
       Approximately 30 served in the first Gulf War that we know 
     of and apparently all returned at the end of the conflict. 
     Many are serving, as we speak, in the second Gulf War, which 
     includes the War on Terror.
       These men gave their lives for all of us in this country. 
     Because of the closeness of our alumni it seems as if they 
     became a part of all of our lives and we all feel their loss. 
     What we have to day is a heritage that is made all the more 
     rich by what they gave for us.
       Today we honor all who have given their lives. There is no 
     doubt that their example has served as an inspiration for all 
     of us to do what we can do to end conflict, but we all know 
     equally well that we could be called upon to make the supreme 
     sacrifice for our country and fellow humankind. We must also 
     remember those Wentworth faculty, staff, cadets and 
     acquaintances who are no longer with us as well as those who 
     have died in the past year.


                            Memorial prayer

       Let us pray. Almighty God, bless now our memories of 
     Wentworth cadets--and their loved ones who waited patiently 
     behind--bless our memories of old boys who made the supreme 
     sacrifice--old boys who march no more in our ranks--who 
     answer no more reveille roll call--who stand no more on the 
     Quadrangle for sunset retreat.
       Bless, oh God, our remembrance of them that the spirit of 
     their heroism--their dreams of a better life in a world at 
     peace their sacrifices for us--may inspire us here on this 
     Wentworth campus, and wherever we go, to live together in 
     brotherly love--according to your golden rule. May their 
     memory live on--heartening and inspiring--teaching us the 
     meaning of heroism, patriotism--brotherly love. And, O God, 
     inspire us so we may never take for granted or forget our 
     Wentworth heroes. May we be inspired in the days and weeks to 
     come to walk a little slower by this Huey helicopter and the 
     doughboy--to walk a little slower by the Mooney memorial, and 
     in our hearts do an ``eyes right and render a smart hand 
     salute--as we pay our respects to our fallen comrades--
     Wentworth cadets who made the supreme sacrifice. Amen

                          ____________________