- March 29th, 2006, 6:00 pm
#9653
ASOR Technical Advisor and Graphics Consultant
Senator John McCain to Address Liberty Commencement Ceremony
March 28, 2006
LYNCHBURG, Va. — American military hero and Arizona Sen. John McCain will deliver the Commencement message at Liberty University on May 13, at 9:30 a.m., in the Liberty University Vines Center. In addition, renowned Christian conservative leader Gary Bauer will speak during the University’s baccalaureate service on May 12, at 7:00 p.m., in the main sanctuary of the Thomas Road Baptist Church.
Sen. McCain is one of America’s most recognized Republican lawmakers. He began his political career in 1982, when he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, serving Arizona’s first congressional district. Four years later, he was elected to the U.S. Senate, replacing the legendary Sen. Barry Goldwater.
In 2000, McCain ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination for president of the United States. He is currently the chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, and serves on the Armed Services and Commerce, Science and Transportation Committees.
Sen. McCain’s name cannot be mentioned without most Americans recalling his distinguished service to the nation as a Naval aviator.
The 1958 Naval Academy graduate served 22 years in the U.S. Navy. In 1967, he was shot down over Vietnam and detained as a prisoner-of-war in Hanoi for more than five years (1967-1973). He has been awarded the Silver Star, Bronze Star, Legion of Merit, Purple Heart and Distinguished Flying Cross.
Sen. McCain, whose father and grandfather were each four-star admirals in the U.S. Navy, recounted his life’s story in his best-selling autobiography, “Faith of My Fathers,” which spent 24 weeks on The New York Times best sellers list.
Paul Douglas of the Institute of Government & Public Affairs has praised Sen. McCain as “a leader in the most critical issues facing our country. He has waged a determined and often solitary campaign against pork barrel spending, fighting for ten years to pass a line item veto. He has been a persistent proponent of lower taxes, deregulation and free trade. He has become one of Congress’ most respected voices for a strong national defense, and for sound foreign policy.”
While Sen. McCain and Liberty University Chancellor Jerry Falwell have had their share of political differences through the years, the two men share a common respect for each other and have become good friends in their efforts to preserve what they see as common values. This will mark his first ever appearance at Liberty University.
Sen. McCain is a practicing Christian. He has seven children and four grandchildren. He and wife Cindy reside in Phoenix.
Gary Bauer formed the Campaign for Working Families (CWF) in 1996 to represent the interests and values of America’s traditional families in the political arena. The organization is a non-partisan political action committee (PAC) dedicated to electing pro-family, pro-life and pro-free enterprise candidates to federal and state offices.
In its first two years of operation, CWF (www.cwfpac.com) raised more than $7 million to become the fifth largest PAC in the country for the 1998 election cycle and the leading pro-family, pro-life political action committee in America.
CWF also provides support for pro-family ballot initiatives, including the successful Defense of Marriage initiatives in Alaska, California, Nebraska, Nevada, and Hawaii, as well as a parental notification initiative in Colorado. Mr. Bauer, a committed follower of Jesus Christ, speaks often in evangelical churches, including the Thomas Road Baptist Church in Lynchburg, Virginia.
Mr. Bauer was a key member of the Reagan administration, holding several jobs at the White House. He ultimately became director of the White House’s Office of Policy Development.
In 1988, he took the reigns of the Family Research Council, a lobbying organization that upholds conservative and Christian ideals, holding that post until 1999 when he announced his campaign to run for president of the United States. While that campaign was short-lived, Mr. Bauer has continued to be one of the nation’s foremost Christian spokesmen.
Mr. Bauer is married to the former Carol Hoke of Lancaster, Pa. The couple has three children — Elyse, Sarah, and Zachary — and live in Virginia. Mr. Bauer received his law degree from Georgetown Law School in Washington D.C., in 1973.
This marks the final year that Liberty’s baccalaureate service will be held at the historic Thomas Road Baptist Church. The church will move into its enormous new facility on Liberty Mountain on July 2, marking the 50th anniversary of the church and the ministry of its founder, the Rev. Jerry Falwell.
JLFJR wrote:Thanks for your input, PA! Very helpful.
ASOR Technical Advisor and Graphics Consultant
yeah, that's possible, they only did that so MTV would show up....LU had they're sit down a few years ago and they did everything they could to accommodate them......
- By Dalegarz1