[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 21 (Wednesday, March 2, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: March 2, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                             COURAGE AWARDS

                                 ______


                          HON. LYNN C. WOOLSEY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 2, 1994

    
    
  Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I would like to commend Kate McLean and 
Gillian Pelham for their exceptional courage and strength during a time 
of extreme hardship.
  Kate and Gillian were the two young people with Polly Klaas when she 
was abducted by a stranger from her home in Petaluma, CA. On the night 
Polly was taken, Kate and Gillian displayed great bravery by remaining 
calm in the face of danger.
  In the trying days and weeks that followed Polly's abduction, Kate 
and Gillian's courage did not falter. These young girls demonstrated an 
inner strength uncommon to people of any age. At the same time Kate and 
Gillian were coping with the abduction of their friend and their own 
victimization, they withstood intense examination of their actions on 
the night Polly disappeared, and, of their entire lives.
  Kate and Gillian acted as only heroes do.
  I would also like to commend the Polly Klaas Foundation for their 
extraordinary efforts during the search for Polly, and for their 
ongoing efforts to protect and invest in our children. There are many 
individuals who have devoted incredible amounts of time and energy to 
building the Polly Klaas Foundation, including Polly's parents--Eve 
Nichol and Marc Klaas. I know that the Polly Klaas Foundation will 
continue to make an important difference in the lives of many children.
  Finally, I would like to commend the United For Courage program, 
directed by Joanne Masokowski, for creating a greater awareness of the 
significant contribution children make to combat illegal activity. 
United For Courage provides a valuable and much-needed service that 
offers encouragement to young people and will help to end the cycle of 
abuse that harms too many of our children.

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