[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 12] [Senate] [Pages 16699-16700] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS ______ CONGRATULATIONS TO ST. LOUIS ROADIES SOCCER TEAM Mr. BOND. Mr. President, today I congratulate the St. Louis Roadies soccer team on their recent participation in the Homeless USA Soccer Cup. The Roadies were the first team ever from St. Louis to participate in this special event, which was held last month here in Washington, DC. I had the privilege and honor to meet personally the entire team and their coaches from Peter and Paul Community Services in my office here on Capitol Hill before their competition. While the team did not capture the title, I am proud of their performance and representation of the St. Louis community and my home State of Missouri. However, I am even prouder of their personal perseverance and commitment to self-improvement after experiencing the terrible plight of homelessness. According to the organizers of the Homeless World Cup, about 77 percent of participants in the 48-team tournament go on to better their lives through employment, housing, education and/or drug and alcohol treatment. The founders of the event believe that it provides an opportunity for these men to express actively themselves through organized competition to build character and positive individuality. Based on their performance, I agree. The six-man team from St. Louis was made up of men who were recently homeless. Unfortunately, many others suffer from the plight of homelessness. It is frankly a national tragedy that we can and must end. Nevertheless, the spirit of the Roadies and others who [[Page 16700]] participated in the Homeless Soccer USA Cup gives us significant hope that we can end homelessness. All six men and their coaches deserve high praise. I personally congratulate the six players, Oscar Grandberry, Daniel Blue, Doug Carter, Labon Smith, Marcus Davis, and Vince Steiniger; and the coaches, assistant coach Dena Emmanuelle, coach David Flomo, and coach Keith Deisner. Let me highlight one of the players named Oscar Grandberry who played goalie for the Roadies. His play earned him a spot on the U.S. national homeless team as an alternate. He is an amazing story of determination. Oscar is a native Liberian and former child soldier who is now on his way to completing a second master's degree from St. Louis University. Oscar and Team USA will travel to Melbourne, Australia, later this year to compete in the sixth annual Homeless World Cup and I wish them my best. The Roadies placed third in the beginners' bracket of the USA Cup and earned the Cup's Fair Play Award. This award is annually granted to the team ``showing the best in human spirit and embodying what the tournament is all about.'' As an addition to the already exceptional sporting culture of St. Louis and the State of Missouri, the Roadies are an inspiration to, and an excellent representation of, the great people of St. Louis. ____________________