[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 53 (Wednesday, March 22, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E659]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                    A TRIBUTE TO 13 GOOD SAMARITANS

                                 ______


                        HON. HERBERT H. BATEMAN

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 22, 1995
  Mr. BATEMAN. Mr. Speaker, please let the record show that I submit 
these remarks jointly with my colleague, the Hon. Robert C. Scott of 
Virginia.
  Too often we fail to recognize the good things today's youth do. We 
are always quick to criticize them, but unfortunately are often slow to 
offer praise when it is deserved. We want to change that today.
  Thirteen children from Newport News deserve special recognition for 
an extraordinarily good deed. While playing a game of chase on a recent 
Sunday afternoon, the youngsters witnessed the mugging of a 75-year-old 
woman. As the mugger sprinted away from the scene of the crime, the 
children, some as young as 5, gave chase to the suspect. They followed 
the suspect for two blocks, eventually leading police to the spot where 
he was hiding. The kids also showed police a nearby truck where the 
suspect had thrown the woman's purse.
  These 13 kids are a shining example of the good things that are 
happening in our communities. Unfortunately, we have the tendency to 
only focus on the negative. The children could have easily ignored Edna 
Moss' cries for help and continued playing. Instead, they chose not to 
let the crime go unnoticed. Mrs. Moss is probably correct in her belief 
that the police may not have been able to catch the thief if it were 
not for the actions of the kids.
  We want to take this opportunity to enter each of the 13 youngsters 
names in the Record. They are Calvin Williams, age 12; Maurice 
Williams, 11; Jamar Williams, 7; Shawn Stephenson, 8; Phillip Gayles, 
12; Delvin Johnson, 13; August Taylor, 12; Antonio Bell, 5; Shenell 
Pressley; Demarcus Gardner, 9; Michael Carter, 6; Tierra Davies, 5; and 
Akeem Tate, 8.
  We are pleased that so many people in the community, from local 
business owners to the Newport News City Council, have recognized the 
deeds of these 13 good Samaritans. ABC's ``Prime Time Live'' also has 
done a feature on the children that was broadcast nationwide. They 
truly deserve the recognition.


                          ____________________