E1472 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks September 11, 2012 

program has supported the youth in my district 

for over thirty years with an emphasis on 

youth development through education and discipline. They also provide cadets with the opportunity to indulge in basic military skill building activities such as rappelling, marksmanship, and weapons safety. The children of 

Harlem have thoroughly benefited from this 

program through the development of body, 

mind, and spirit. Ackeem was a remarkable 

testament of their success. 

Mr. Speaker, I know that we, the Village of 

Harlem, will honor Ackeem’s life by ensuring 

that his young infant son, Ackeem Paul Green, 

Jr., follows in his father’s drill steps and exceeds his dreams and aspirations to be all 

that he can be. May First Sergeant Ackeem 

Paul Green’s legacy be far remembered and 

everlasting, as we pick up the flag and defeat 

this enemy of illegal gun violence that has destroy the lives of our children, families and 

communities. I ask that you and my colleagues join me in honoring a great young 

man and an impassioned mentor whose legacy shall be far remembered and everlasting. 

f 

ST. JOSEPH’S CATHOLIC CHURCH 

100TH ANNIVERSARY 

HON. RODNEY P. FRELINGHUYSEN OF NEW JERSEY

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tuesday, September 11, 2012 

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise 

today to honor St. Joseph’s Slovak Catholic 

Church of Raritan, Somerset County, New Jersey, which is celebrating 100 years as an important member of the local community. 

Since St. Joseph’s establishment in 1912, it 

has been contributing to the religious, cultural 

and social diversity that has come to define 

New Jersey. The church was initially founded 

by immigrants fleeing religious persecution in 

Slovakia. Many of the early members of the 

congregation worked in the Woolen Mills, 

Duke Park and along the railroads crisscrossing the area. Beginning with only a handful of families, the parish of the new St. Joseph’s Slovak Catholic Church gathered on 

October 1, 1912 to form a church society with 

the goal of raising enough money to build a 

church where they could practice their faith in 

their native tongue free from persecution or 

prejudice. 

In 1914, the society raised enough money 

to purchase a piece of property in Raritan for 

the construction of a church. The church was 

formally dedicated in 1915 after a year of construction. Adding to their permanent presence 

in Raritan, the parish added an adjoining 

school in 1926. The school initially had a class 

of 234 students and was focused on providing 

students with a source of education on their 

Catholic faith and Slovak heritage. 

St. Joseph’s provides an exemplary illustration of the benefits of sharing culture and beliefs with others. Religious and cultural centers 

such as St. Joseph’s, provide religious education, philanthropic assistance for those in 

need, and a greater sense of cultural awareness to the local community while providing a 

place for people to gather and worship. 

The parish of St. Joseph’s has been very involved in giving back to the community philanthropically, participating in food bank collections, gathering baby clothing and formula for 

struggling mothers, and joining other churches 

in their charitable works. St. Joseph’s assistance casts a wide net, helping people from 

the Raritan area as well as participating in 

worldwide assistance efforts. 

Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues 

to join me in congratulating St. Joseph’s Slovak Catholic Church for 100 years of dedicated work on behalf of the Great State of 

New Jersey. 

f 

OUR UNCONSCIONABLE NATIONAL 

DEBT 

HON. MIKE COFFMAN OF COLORADO

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tuesday, September 11, 2012 

Mr. COFFMAN of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, 

on January 20, 2009, the day President 

Obama took office; the national debt was 

$10,626,877,048,913.08. 

Today, it is $ 16,046,680,286,836.39. We’ve 

added $5,419,803,237,923.31 dollars to our 

debt in 3 years. This is $5.4 trillion in debt our 

nation, our economy, and our children could 

have avoided with a balanced budget amendment. 

f 

CELEBRATING THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF UNITY CHURCH IN 

GRAPEVINE 

HON. KENNY MARCHANT OF TEXAS

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tuesday, September 11, 2012 

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, it is with 

great pride that I recognize the 30th anniversary of Unity Church located in Grapevine, 

Texas. It is an honor for me to celebrate this 

congregation’s achievement and share its history with my fellow colleagues in Congress. 

The Unity Church of Northeast Tarrant 

County, which is now commonly called the 

Unity Church of Grapevine, held its first worship service in rented hotel facilities on September 12, 1982. The church moved to facilities in Hurst, where they remained until 1991 

when the church purchased property at 1970 

E. Dove Road in Southlake, Texas. 

In January 1996, the church purchased 

5,825 acres on Hughes Road, one mile south 

of downtown Grapevine. The church built a 

13,116 square foot building which was dedicated in September, 1996. Funding for the 

building was through issuance of $920,000 in 

church bonds through American Church Trust. 

The bonds were re-financed in 2002, providing 

funding for the start up of Hughes Road Montessori in September, 2003. The Church sold 

1.75 acres of back property in 2005 for 

$285,000, leaving it with roughly 4 acres. The 

church received a signing bonus for the property mineral rights from Chesapeake Exploration in 2008 for the amount of $92,754.50 

which was applied against the mortgage. A 

campaign to pay off the mortgage of $106,000 

by June 1, 2012 began February 12, 2012 

from a $50,000 matching contribution from 

anonymous donors. 

For 26 years, Unity Church in Grapevine 

has conducted a weekly ministry in the Federal Prison System at Federal Correctional Institute in Fort Worth, Texas. In June 1989, the 

church received the John Templeton Radio 

Grant to begin a radio ministry and in 1991 

was awarded the first Voice of Unity Award for 

excellence in broadcasting. Also in 1991, a 

Care Team was established in the church with 

its members making hospital calls, nursing 

home visits, furnishing food for members as 

needed, and contacting members by phone 

once a month. 

Active in the community, Unity Church of 

Grapevine assists Grapevine Relief and Community Exchange (GRACE) by furnishing food 

for the food pantry. The church partners with 

Grapevine Middle School and has tithed to the 

school over the past eleven years with funds 

providing an after school martial arts program, 

medical assistance, and for needs of students 

and their families in time of crisis. Members 

also volunteer as mentors to the students. 

Rev. Carol Record has served the Unity 

Church in Grapevine since its inception. She 

served as Chaplain of Trinity Springs Pavilion 

(the County psychiatric hospital), the first 

woman president of Grapevine Rotary, a 

member of the Chamber of Commerce, a 26- 

year volunteer at Federal Correctional Institute, mentor at Grapevine Middle School, and 

a MHMR Visions Board member. Rev. Record 

leads the weekly Sunday services, teaches a 

Bible class each week as well as spiritual 

growth classes throughout the year. She is a 

published author, a well known speaker, and 

a community leader. 

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the 24th Congressional District of Texas, I ask all my distinguished colleagues to join me in congratulating Unity Church in Grapevine on its 30th 

anniversary. 

f 

PERSONAL EXPLANATION 

HON. ROBERT E. ANDREWS OF NEW JERSEY

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tuesday, September 11, 2012 

Mr. ANDREWS. Mr. Speaker, I was not 

present for rollcall No. 558; had I been 

present, I would have voted ‘‘aye.’’ 

Mr. Speaker, I was not present for rollcall 

No. 559; had I been present, I would have 

voted ‘‘aye.’’ 

f 

REMEMBERING SEPTEMBER 11, 2001 

HON. PHIL GINGREY OF GEORGIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tuesday, September 11, 2012 

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I 

rise today in memory of the nearly three thousand lives lost in the attacks of September 

11th. On Patriots Day, we also honor the servicemen and women who have paid the ultimate price in the war on terror. We will never 

be able to fully honor their sacrifice in the defense of our freedoms. 

In the 11 years since the devastation of that 

day, our anger and sadness have turned to 

unfaltering resolve and determination. On that 

terrible day, 19 terrorists believed they would 

bring America to its knees. They believed our 

Nation and our people could be defeated by a 

cowardly attack. They were wrong. 


tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with REMARKS