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領養中國孩子家庭協會代表Mrs. Lisa Kifer致詞
Good afternoon. My name is Lisa Kifer. I am both flattered and
honored to be asked to say a few words to you today but first my
family and I want to extend our deepest sympathy to Jim’s family.
Our lives as an adoptive family have had the great good fortune to
have known, worked, lived, and laughed with Jim for the past 8
years. As those of you who knew Jim personally are already aware,
Jim was a remarkable person: intelligent, energetic, enthusiastic
and generous, an incredible motivator, leader and friend. He was
full of life—larger than life really and unforgettable to all with
whom he came in contact. We have the greatest admiration and respect
for Jim and we will miss him greatly - more than words can ever
express.
Today, however, I am here not to speak just for my family and myself
but for the thousands of adopted Chinese children, who through Jim’s
tireless and inspired efforts have and will come to know their
heritage and their birth country. Jim has made a huge, even
life-changing difference for the China adoptive community.
Jim was a true visionary. In 2003, the vision he saw involved
enhancing the lives of American adopted Chinese children through a
cultural exchange with China. Jim proposed to create an opportunity
for these adopted children to visit China with their families, in
order for the children to experience the culture, the history,
customs and language of their birth. Jim believed that with a better
understanding of China, the children would feel a deeper sense of
pride in their heritage and a true bridge of friendship between 2
great countries would begin to develop.
Jim was never intimidated by even the most daunting task and he set
out with the help of his friend Qiu Liguo from the Chinese Overseas
Exchange Association in Beijing to make the vision a reality. I was
so very fortunate to be asked by Jim to help him organize the first
tour group of adoptive families for a wonderful tour of China
subsidized by the Chinese government. In the summer of 2004, just 3
families, comprised of 4 adults and 5 children, traveled to China as
the “test case” for Jim and Qiu’s plan. I am so very grateful to
have been on that first trip along with the Bone family and the
Butterfield family, as it was the only trip Jim would be able to
make with the Adoptive Families’ China Heritage Summer Camp. It was
truly the trip of a lifetime for all of us and although we have
returned several times with Jim’s organization and had wonderful,
unforgettable experiences, the trip with Jim was special in a way
that could never be and most unfortunately will never be repeated.
It is a memory that I and the other families return to often and
which we treasure.
Though not able again to join the Root Seeking Summer Camp, Jim’s
enthusiasm never waned. He directed his seemingly tireless energy,
intelligence and generosity of spirit and purpose to the planning
and organization of the adoptive family summer camps. He was always
with us in spirit --- as well as quite often by telephone. He was a
master of persuasion as well, handling all the negotiations with
Beijing as to both the broad outlines of the program and the small
details. Imagine please the perseverance, time, effort and knowledge
it took to not only receive permission from the Chinese government
for this program and to convince them to be involved on a day to day
basis but also to persuade them to provide their financial
assistance to offset the costs for the families! It was important to
Jim that all families no matter their economic circumstance have
this wonderful opportunity to show their children that they were
considered welcomed, indeed at home, in China. Of course, Jim did
all of this as a volunteer for no monetary or financial reward. He
used his own resources, his own vacation time, his network of
friends and contacts to propel his vision from a mere 9 individuals
to 75 families, including 95 adopted Chinese children who have
participated to date. Jim’s organization now has its own website; a
book about the Adoptive Families’ China Heritage Summer Camp and
China’s adopted children has been published; and other groups are
now copying and using Jim’s ideas. His incredible legacy extends
beyond my daughters and Central Ohio Families with Children from
China and even past the American borders to the international
Chinese adoptees living through out the world.
How many of us can claim to have made such a difference in the lives
of so many? And yet I know that this was only a small part of Jim’s
life—he was that remarkable individual who was able to accomplish so
many good works that most of the rest of us can only stand back in
awe and admiration.
大辛辛那提中文學校董事長廖啓紅女士致詞
雄風凌蒼穹,豪氣蕩江山
-- 獻給建軍
大家好,我叫廖啓紅,是大辛辛那提中文學校董事長。今天,我代表我們學校,代表全辛辛那提華人,帶着萬分悲痛的心情,來送建軍先生最後一程。爲了中文敎育,我和建軍在一起共事了13年。在這13年里,建軍給我們辛辛那提所有華人提供了許多機會,在各方面給了我們很大的支持和幫助。他旣是我的同事,也是我的兄長,更是我的良師益友。下面這篇文章,我要獻給建軍。
建軍:我到如今還是難以置信:你怎么就這么匆匆地走了,帶着你沒有完成的心願,帶着我們所有人的遺憾。去年11月8日,在開世界華文敎育硏討會時,你還和我們大家一起爬上泰山極頂,而今,一個多彩的生命瞬間在我們眼前消失。頑強的生命,此時,竟顯得如此的脆弱。你讓我們突然間感覺人類竟是那么的渺小、那么的無能爲力。要是時光能夠倒流,如果能把我們的生命分一些給你,那么,我相信我們中許多人都會願意那樣做的。
在你與疾病做鬥爭的那些日子里,你是那么的頑強。從你身上,根本就看不到半點癌症病人的影子。生命的每一分、每一秒對你來説,都是那么的寶貴,而你,你滿腦子里裝着的,還是中文敎育,常常掂記着的總還是那些需要你幫助的人。建軍,是你,讓我們懂得了生命是何等的寶貴;是你,讓我們懂得了要珍稀生命中的每一分、每一秒;更是你,啓發我們怎樣去創造一個更有價値的生命。
建軍:你就這么走了。我們知道你是去追求你向往的完美世界,你是去找尋那一片屬於你的天空。相信在天國,你一定也不甘寂寞。那里,也有一番轟轟烈烈的事業等着你,是嗎?只是,我們懇請你稍作休息,別再累壞了身體。
建軍:你走了,走的如此匆忙。你的一生充滿了傳奇色彩,你用你短暫的一生譜寫了一曲生命的贊歌。你的豐功偉績將永遠載入史冊,你的言傳身敎,將永遠成爲我們後人學習的楷模。你就象一只引航的燈塔,照亮我們前進的航向...
建軍:你放心地走吧。我們一定會朝着你指出的方向,繼續勇往直前,去完成你未竟的事業。雖然你走了,但是,人去魂留,千古不朽。你的精神,你的風範將永遠伴隨着我們。你的一生,是精彩的一生。你的雄風凌越蒼穹,你的豪氣振蕩山河!
建軍:你安心地走吧,我們將永遠懷念你,這一路你走好。
建軍精神,永垂千古!
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