[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 24 (Tuesday, March 8, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: March 8, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
          TRIBUTE TO J. FLETCHER CREAMER AND THE DARE PROGRAM

                                 ______


                           HON. MARGE ROUKEMA

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, March 8, 1994

  Mrs. ROUKEMA. Mr. Speaker, substance abuse, and the crime it breeds, 
remain a real and terribly dangerous threat to our communities, our 
neighborhoods, and our families. In order to win the war on abuse we 
need aggressive interdiction, vigorous enforcement, and more 
importantly, effective treatment and tireless education. No one is more 
aware of this fact and no one has worked harder to fight the scourge of 
drug abuse than J. Fletcher Creamer of Saddle River, NJ, and his 
family.
  Throughout his life, Fletch Creamer has distinguished himself as an 
accomplished businessman and community servant. As a young man, Fletch 
Creamer served in the U.S. Navy in both the Pacific Fleet during World 
War II and again in the Korean conflict. In 1946 he began his career as 
a general contractor. He has since built his company, J. Fletcher 
Creamer & Son, Inc., into one of northern New Jersey's most successful 
contracting firms.
  Throughout his career, Fletch Creamer has never forgotten his duty to 
serve his community. His resume of civic activities reads like an honor 
role of service organizations. He has given of himself to the local 
fire department, the Boy Scouts of America, Englewood Hospital, Fort 
Lee Chamber of Commerce, Hackensack Medical Center, the Republican 
Party, and many, many more.
  Perhaps the most important cause that Fletch Creamer and his wife, 
Katherine, have become involved with is the Drug Abuse Resistance 
Education Program. The Creamer family suffered a personal tragedy in an 
incident that took the life of their youngest son and brother, Jeffrey. 
The perpetrator was a known drug user.
  The Drug Abuse Resistance Education Program, known more commonly as 
DARE, is the largest and most effective drug-use prevention education 
program in the United States, and is now taught to 25 million youths in 
school from kindergarten to 12th grade. The DARE curriculum was 
originally developed by the Los Angeles Police Department and the Los 
Angeles Unified School District. Today, it is taught by veteran police 
officers throughout the world. After completing 80 hours of specialized 
training, each officer enters the classroom where they provide children 
with the skills and self-esteem needed to resist the peer pressure and 
temptation to use drugs.

  The DARE program is clearly a success. Independent research has found 
that DARE substantially impacts students' attitudes toward substance 
use. It has also worked to help students improve study habits, achieve 
higher grades, decrease vandalism and gang activity, and gain a greater 
respect for police officers. I can testify that among the police 
departments and educators in my district, DARE is unanimously singled 
out for the higher praise.
  Since the program's inception in 1988, Fletch Creamer has been a 
major force in bringing it to students throughout the State of New 
Jersey. On Thursday, March 10, the DARE New Jersey family will gather 
to say a heartfelt thank you to Fletch for all his efforts. Today, I 
ask my colleagues to join with them by showing our appreciation for the 
dedication of Fletch and Katherine Creamer and the thousands of DARE 
volunteers that have made a life and death difference for countless 
young people across our country.

                          ____________________