I have a young friend whose name is Dana Statler. Dana was at one time, the youth pastor at the Lancaster Church of the Brethren. He has since left our congregation to take a full time pastorate at another church.

Several years ago we went to Europe on a Brethren Heritage Tour and at that time I had a wheelchair put on the motor coach since I could not walk very well. Dana volunteered to push me around Europe. He and several others on the tour were very faithful about pushing me. It made my whole trip so pleasurable and I shall forever be in Dana's debt for what he did for me. Thank you, Dana.

Upon the occasion of his leaving our congregation I wrote the following little poem to put in his memory book. I hope you enjoy it.

Dana Pushing Jay

We went to Berne and saw the bears;
Where martyrs lay in dungeon lairs.
On cobbled streets the ride was rough,
I went ah-ah-ah-ah like kids do stuff,
While Dana was my motor.

At Schwarzenau by river's bank
Where Mack and friends in water sank;
On steep inclines from hill to town,
Some others helped my chair go down;
Spelled Dana as my motor.

At Munster where the cages hung
For Anabaptists who went wrong,
Menno took the reins and showed
The church a better, higher road;
Like Dana as my motor.

My trip to Europe was full of joy
Since Dana's strength I did employ.
Without his help and friendly touch,
I never would have seen so much.
Thanks, Dana, my great motor.