[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 97 (Friday, July 22, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: July 22, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
  IN HONOR OF THE VOLUNTEERS AND PARTICIPANTS OF PROJECT CHILDREN FOR 
         PROVIDING COMFORT TO THE CHILDREN OF NORTHERN IRELAND

                                 ______


                          HON. ROBERT MENENDEZ

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 22, 1994

  Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to 
recognize the work of some very special people who have given so much 
of themselves and their time to an organization known as Project 
Children. These people open their homes to children from Northern 
Ireland in order to provide them with some respite from the fighting 
which takes place in their homeland. I also commend the young people 
from Northern Ireland who have the courage and strength to endure 
living in such a hostile environment.
  Project Children was founded in 1975 by Denis Mulcahy. Since then, 
the organization has continued to grow and prosper. Thanks to the many 
volunteers and contributors, Project Children has been able to bring 
9,000 children to the United States. This year, Project Children has 
flown 840 youngsters from Northern Ireland to the United States. I am 
proud to say that 250 of those children are coming to the State of New 
Jersey. Under the very capable direction of John and Joan Hughes, area 
coordinators, the Clifton Chapter, which is the largest in the State of 
New Jersey, received 42 children this year.
  I would like to extend a warm welcome to all of our guests from 
Northern Ireland, especially, Emma Murphy, Lisa Toner, Jerrod Toner, 
Seadhna Billings, Cailin McKnight, Thomas Tracey, John Hoey, Keith Rea, 
and Padraig O'Hara. The events of the past few months have given these 
children and their friends and family reasons to hope. The Downing 
Street declaration, which was proposed in December, could be a step in 
the right direction, toward peace in Northern Ireland. For their sake, 
I certainly hope so.
  I would also like to thank the host families who have opened their 
hearts and their homes to these children, especially Kevin and Kathleen 
Drennan, Robert and MaryAnn McAdams, Brian and Lorri McGorty, Richard 
and Carolyn Malizia, Joseph and Marie Masterson, John and Mary Brunn, 
Thomas and Peggy Dreker, and James and Beverly Aibel.
  I am sure my colleagues join me in wishing these children and their 
families the best in the future. We also commend their host families 
for their caring and generosity. Furthermore, we hope that in the 
coming year, they will no longer have to endure the kind of violence 
they have been living with for so many years.

                          ____________________