December 9, 2008 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E2341 

and her cats, and we all wish her well as she 

will have more time to pursue these passions. 

We are grateful to Diana for her service. 

f 

IN HONOR OF JACK AND GENEVIEVE CHAPMAN, THE REAL 

SPIRIT OF THE SEASON 

HON. MICHELE BACHMANN OF MINNESOTA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tuesday, December 9, 2008 

Mrs. BACHMANN. Madam Speaker, I rise to 

share a story of two true public servants, Jack 

and Genevieve Chapman of Minnesota. As we 

enter a season when people’s hearts and 

minds are turned to the spirit of giving, these 

two people have lived a life of selflessness 

and charity. 

Jack Chapman of St. Paul was recognized 

by the Army as a Shot Expert Rifleman as an 

ROTC high school student. When Pearl Harbor was attacked, he was an electrical engineering student at the University of Minnesota. 

One year later, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine 

Corps and was sent to the prestigious Bellevue Radio Materiel School at the U.S. Naval 

Research Lab. His lifelong love of Ham radio 

made him a perfect candidate for the new 

science of radar. He was assigned to the Marine Night Fighters in the South Pacific, the 

very first to use radar at night. He earned two 

Bronze Service Stars on the Asiatic-Pacific 

campaign ribbon. Jack also earned the American Theater Campaign Bar before being honorably discharged to return home and complete his college education. 

Genevieve Christgau of Minneapolis pursued a nursing degree and became a registered nurse working in the operating room at 

Asbury Hospital. Her status as essential personnel kept her from joining the Army Nurse 

Corps. But, as soon as her status changed, 

she enlisted and was assigned to the 77th 

Field Hospital in December 1944. Her tour 

took her to France where she worked with soldiers preparing to return home. Many had 

come from POW camps and were suffering 

severe malnutrition. Before her honorable discharge and return to the States, Genevieve 

was stationed in Nuremburg, Germany. When 

she returned home, she resumed nursing; this 

time in the Veterans Hospital in Minneapolis. 

During the Cuban Refugee Crisis, she worked 

at Fort McCoy, WI, and she earned certification as a Public Health Nurse, helping provide early childhood screenings and school 

nursing services. 

Genevieve and Jack married on February 

18, 1949 and continued to live a life of service. Both are active volunteers at Pax Christi 

Catholic Church. They also have been members of ‘‘Friday Friends,’’ a group that visits 

Presbyterian Homes, formerly the Eagle Nursing Home, and of Bridging, an organization 

that provides household furniture and goods to 

those who need them most. Always putting 

their family at the center of their generous 

spirits, they have raised seven children, giving 

them 16 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. 

These two fine people have lived a life of 

service to their country, their community, and 

their family. They are two of the many unsung 

heroes that make America work, and today I 

rise to sing their praises and to thank them for 

their selflessness. 

HONORING GEORGE BARANOWSKI 

HON. PETER J. VISCLOSKY OF INDIANA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tuesday, December 9, 2008 

Mr. VISCLOSKY. Madam Speaker, it is with 

great honor and pleasure that I stand before 

you today to recognize one of Northwest Indiana’s finest citizens, Mr. George Baranowski, 

of Schererville, Indiana. George has always 

been a dedicated, distinguished, and honorable citizen, and I can say without hesitation 

that he is one of the most involved individuals 

I have ever known. As a businessman, entrepreneur, public official, and an avid volunteer, 

George has served the community in Northwest Indiana for many years. Through his 

service, he has brought honor to Americans of 

Polish heritage, and for his efforts, he will be 

honored with the Polish American Congress 

Meritorious Service Award at a banquet taking 

place at The Patio Restaurant in Merrillville, 

Indiana on Sunday, November 2, 2008. 

George Baranowski was born on August 30, 

1957 at Saint Catherine Hospital in East Chicago, Indiana. He was the third child born to 

immigrant parents, Mieczyslaw (Matt) and 

Janina Baranowski. A lifelong resident of 

Northwest Indiana, George attended Saint 

Casmir Elementary School in Hammond before moving on to George Rogers Clark High 

School. Following his graduation from high 

school in 1975, George went on to study Electrical Engineering Technology at Purdue University, where he earned both his associate 

and bachelor degrees. 

After receiving his associate degree, George 

began working at the Northern Indiana Public 

Service Company (NIPSCO), where he remained until the completion of his bachelor 

degree. At that time, he accepted a position in 

management with Acme Steel in Riverdale, Illinois. Following seven successful years at 

Acme, George moved on in 1995, when he 

accepted a management position at BP 

Amoco in Chicago, Illinois. Recognized for his 

professionalism and leadership abilities, in 

1999, George was awarded a position as Vice 

President at Prometheus Network Solution, 

Inc., thus allowing him to obtain one of his lifelong goals. 

Having accomplished a goal he set forth for 

himself in business, George decided to move 

on, and after working for IBM for a period of 

time, he and his wife went into business for 

themselves. On October 1, 2004, George and 

his wife, Debra, opened their first Allstate Insurance Agency in Dyer, Indiana. Since then 

they have achieved great success, having 

been awarded Allstate’s prestigious Honor 

Ring, Regional Champion, and Chairman’s 

Club Member distinctions. In 2007, they were 

among the elite at Allstate as part of the top 

five percent. It is no surprise the couple 

opened their second branch in 2008. 

Undoubtedly, George Baranowski has been 

extremely successful as a businessman and 

entrepreneur throughout his career. However, 

his efforts on behalf of his community have 

truly set him apart from his peers. As a public 

official, George is currently the Commissioner 

of the Dyer Redevelopment Commission and 

a Trustee for the Lake Central School Board. 

He has also served as Chairman of the Saint 

John Township Board as well as a Legislative 

Committee Member for the Indiana School 

Board Association, serving all of Jasper, Lake, 

Newton, and Porter Counties. He has also 

served as a member of the Chambers of 

Commerce for the communities of Schererville 

and Dyer, for which he is currently the Director. In addition to his many civic responsibilities, George has also been extremely active 

in various charitable and community-based organizations, including: Christmas in April, the 

Lions Club, Masonic Lodge, Scottish Rite, and 

the Polish American Congress. 

A devout family man, George spends much 

of his spare time with not only his business 

partner, but his loving wife of 28 years, Debra. 

George and Debra have two sons, Brett and 

Bryan, and one daughter, Kristy. 

Madam Speaker, George Baranowski has 

given his time and efforts selflessly to the people of his community, and he has served as a 

source of pride for the Polish American community. His efforts have touched the hearts of 

many people throughout the years, and at this 

time, I ask that you and all of my distinguished 

colleagues join me in commending him for his 

lifetime of service and dedication. 

f 

HONORING THE REVEREND 

GEORGE M. DOCHERTY 

HON. BILL SHUSTER OF PENNSYLVANIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tuesday, December 9, 2008 

Mr. SHUSTER. Madam Speaker, I rise 

today to honor the life and work of the Reverend George M. Docherty, whose influential 

sermon in 1954 led to the insertion of the 

phrase ‘‘under God’’ in the Pledge of Allegiance. Reverend Docherty passed away on 

Thanksgiving Day in his home in Alexandria, 

PA at the age of 97. 

Reverend Docherty came to the United 

States from Glasgow, Scotland to become the 

pastor of the New York Avenue Presbyterian 

Church, which was attended by President Lincoln in the 1860s and later became known as 

‘‘Lincoln’s church.’’ It is tradition for the President to attend a special service at the church 

on the Sunday closest to Lincoln’s birthday. It 

was during this special service on February 7, 

1954, that Reverend Docherty gave a sermon 

before President Dwight D. Eisenhower calling 

for the Pledge of Allegiance to be amended to 

acknowledge God. Reverend Docherty took 

the phrase ‘‘under God’’ from the Gettysburg 

Address, in which Lincoln said, ‘‘this Nation, 

under God, shall have a new birth of freedom.’’ 

Reverend Docherty first heard the Pledge of 

Allegiance from his then 7-year-old son, Garth, 

and was surprised that it made no reference 

to God. He argued in his sermon to the President that ‘‘To omit the words ‘under God’ in 

the Pledge of Allegiance is to omit the definitive factor in the American way of life.’’ Without any acknowledgement of God, Reverend 

Docherty said the pledge could apply to nearly 

any nation, including the communist Soviet 

Union. The sermon had an immediate effect 

on President Eisenhower, and several bills 

were introduced in Congress that week to 

amend the Pledge. The bill to add ‘‘under 

God’’ to the Pledge of Allegiance was signed 

into law by President Eisenhower just 4 

months later on Flag Day 1954. 

The Pledge of Allegiance is a national symbol of unity and a reflection of our shared 


rfrederick on PROD1PC67 with REMARKS