Miracle of Father Flanagan Comes True in D.C.

Click here to read more about the grand opening and dedication of homes in Washington, D.C.

Well good morning, everyone. We have a great day here. I think the rain's going to hold off. I think Father Flanagan is shining down on us here and is in all of our hearts today.

This is a great day and I think that all of you being here makes it special. We had a special visitor to Boys Town in Nebraska on April 3 of this year. The First Lady of the United States, Mrs. Laura Bush, came to campus, and it was a wonderful trip. She was able to visit with eight of our girls who live in a home just like this one, one of the residential homes run by Boys Town. She had a great visit with the girls. Afterwards, I asked the kids, "What did you think of Mrs. Bush?" And they said, "She's just like a regular mom. with really nice shoes."

And in her talk Mrs. Bush took the time to say, "Father Flanagan knew what he was doing." You know what, we couldn't agree more.

Father Flanagan, 90 years ago, was working on the streets of Omaha with homeless men. He began to despair because he didn't think he could make a big influence in their lives. And then something wonderful happened. The street kids started showing up looking for a sandwich. And he gave a sandwich to one boy. The next day there was five; the next day there was 30. Street kids are pretty smart.

They showed up and Father Flanagan quickly realized that the environment of a homeless shelter full of men wasn't a great environment for kids. So he took them to an abandoned sandlot and they played baseball over the noon hour. And then something changed inside of Father Flanagan. He made a place for those kids in his heart. He made a place for them in his heart.

Everything we see around us and across this great nation that has been built by Boys Town began there in the heart of Father Flanagan. Father Flanagan made a place in his heart for kids like Monsignor Ariano, who grew up there as a boy, came back to work as a counselor. And as Monsignor Ariano said, "Lord, for that we thank you."

Father Flanagan worked to provide not only a home in his heart, but a physical home for children. And as he did so he noticed their courage. He saw that these kids had the courage to get better. This courage gave him the strength to fight for their rights. First, with local judges who wanted to put kids in jail for the rest of their lives for stealing bread. He fought for those kids. He fought to have them come and live in his home.

He also fought with elected officials in Nebraska and across the nation for the rights of kids. And in 1938, he came here to Washington, D.C., to speak with President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

What he said to the president was, "You know, Mr. President, I hear wonderful things spoken about issues international and national, but what I don't hear you speaking about are the cries of the children in your midst." He called upon leaders to hear those cries and respond.

And in 1948, he responded when called upon by President Harry Truman he went to Japan and then Germany to give advice about how to care for the orphans - the children who were the victims of the war. And he died in the service of his country in Berlin giving that advice. He never lost that place in his heart for kids. And today, in his name, I call upon the leaders of this nation and of this District of Columbia, to hear the voices of children in their midst.

The 34% of kids here who live in poverty, the 10% who will drop out of school this year, the thousands who are abused and neglected and abandoned and who are ready to give up hope.

If we have a place in our hearts for kids like Father Flanagan, then we'll build places like this for our kids. Like Father Flanagan, we'll speak not only with our voices, but with our actions. Since 1993, Boys Town has invested $65 million in the District of Columbia to help kids. In 2005 alone, last year, we served 408 kids and their families. 15,000 other people in the district benefited from our hotline or other Boys Town training.

This site has served kids in an exemplary fashion. And Lyn Corbett and his great staff are to be honored for all they do everyday for kids. But other people have already honored them.

Mr. Gigger was announced as the Foster Parent of the Year in 2006. Pamela Jordan was honored by the Consortium for Child Welfare in 2005 as the Social Worker of the Year. Salvatrice Murphy was named Supervisor of the Year this year. And, according to the Child Welfare Consortium, this year Boys Town was named Outstanding Agency of the Year. Let's hear it for them, congratulations.

Today, Boys Town opens four new homes for kids. It will provide a less restrictive, family style environment for the district's most at-risk kids. Kids like Frank, whom we just heard from. A year ago Frank was failing at school. He didn't want to brag about this, but this year he won the Presidential Academic Excellence Award and was named Student of the Year. Let's hear it for him.

Clearly, the miracle of Father Flanagan, who made a place in his heart for kids, has come true in Frank's life. What I ask you today is to make that miracle happen in your heart - To make a place for kids in your heart.

Let's pray, all of us, that these homes will be filled with help, healing and hope; and for the spirit of Father Flanagan, who never gave up on kids. Kids, we're not going to give up on you. Don't give up on yourself. We promise to always have a place in our hearts for kids. Thank you.