[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 6605]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




IN RECOGNITION OF EUGENE STARKS ROBERTS, SR. AND HIS RUN ACROSS AMERICA 
                               FOR JESUS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MIKE McINTYRE

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 22, 2008

  Mr. McINTYRE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and welcome to our 
nation's capital a special guest and great American hero named Eugene 
Starks Roberts, Sr. A former Marine, Vietnam veteran, and double 
amputee, Mr. Roberts joins us near the conclusion of his long and 
inspiring mission to run across America for Jesus. Mr. Roberts has run 
over 3,500 miles during the last nine months--miles that represent his 
commitment to Jesus Christ and the ideals central to his strong 
Christian faith.
  Throughout his journey, Mr. Roberts has sought to raise awareness and 
money for the less fortunate and for medical research for diseases such 
as cancer and diabetes. Making the cross-country trek on prosthetic 
legs, Mr. Roberts has also made it his goal to inspire wounded warriors 
in their recoveries. Indeed, his endurance of both body and spirit 
should be an inspiration to us all.
  Mr. Roberts has run through more than 80 different U.S. cities, 
including two in my district--Shallotte and Wilmington, North Carolina. 
Southeastern North Carolina is honored to have been included along the 
way. Mr. Roberts has reminded my constituents and countless other 
Americans, both those with and without disabilities, of the importance 
of perseverance. He serves as a testament to the phenomenal strengths 
and great characters of our men and women in uniform. Finally, he has 
reminded us of what it means to give of oneself in order to help others 
in need.
  His wife of 40 years, Marian Alicia, his three daughters, one son, 
and 11 grandchildren should be extremely proud of the man they call 
husband, father, and ``Poppop''.
  Madam Speaker, I stand today to honor Mr. Roberts' achievements not 
only over the last nine months, but also over his entire life, as he 
approaches the end of his run across our great Nation.

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