[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 46 (Friday, March 29, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E513]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       A TRIBUTE TO CHAD THOMPSON

                                 ______


                   HON. WILLIAM M. ``MAC'' THORNBERRY

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, March 29, 1996

  Mr. THORNBERRY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Chad 
Thompson of Amarillo, TX who is the State winner of the Voice of 
Democracy broadcast script writing contest, administered by the 
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States. His essay is a 
reflection of our American heritage, to do what we can for our 
neighbors, community, and our Nation:

       The great red sun peeked over the blue horizon. Just as 
     dawn broke a young woman was strolling barefoot along the 
     beach. She breathed in the cool morning air and felt the sand 
     between her toes. The uniform stretch of beach was broken 
     only by starfish washed in by the tide. There were thousands 
     of them covering the beach.
       Too bad, the young woman thought, that all of them would 
     dry up and die before long. Starfish thrive in shallow water, 
     but once they are beached there is no other option but death. 
     She picked up one of the starfish, took a long look at it, 
     and threw it far back into the ocean, giving it a second 
     chance at life. Then she picked up another and hurled it back 
     into the water too.
       She had been doing this for a while when a casual jogger 
     passed by and asked, ``Are you crazy? Do you realize there 
     are millions of starfish here? You can't make a difference.'' 
     She looked up at him, propelled another starfish to safety 
     and replied, ``I made a difference to that one.''
       Behind this simple story lies the solution to answering 
     America's call. I believe America's call is for its citizens 
     to love their country, to cherish its traditions while making 
     room for new ones, and to work for the betterment of their 
     fellow countrymen. Each person can make a tremendous 
     difference--whether to the nation as a whole, their state, 
     their community, or in their own neighborhood. The time is 
     now for Americans to respond. Every American should realize 
     large problems can be surmounted--that for every Goliath of 
     society, there is a David who, with the courage to act, can 
     solve what seemed to be an impossible task. David was able to 
     conquer the huge giant Goliath with just one stone, in the 
     same way we can eradicate any problem in America with a 
     positive attitude and willingness to work hard.
       I believe that cherishing America is to show pride in its 
     symbols. For example, last summer, as I stepped out of my 
     house early on July 4th to jog, something seemed a little 
     strange. It wasn't anything that could hinder me physically, 
     but it wounded by sense of patriotism. The problem was that 
     no one had the American flag displayed.
       Before I ran to the end of the street, I turned around, 
     walked back in to my home, found the fabric of our nation, 
     and proudly put it in its place in our yard. Afterwards I 
     continued my job, but when I returned a smile came across my 
     face, for the neighborhood was now splashed with red, white, 
     and blue.
       You see, as everyone around the block saw the flag in our 
     yard, they put theirs out as well. This incident shows how 
     the power of one small act can cause a chain reaction that 
     makes a big difference. Independence day in my neighborhood 
     was a little brighter which in turn made me proud to be an 
     American.
       In April of 1995 tragedy ate at America's heart. When the 
     Alfred Murrah Federal building in Oklahoma City was bombed, 
     it created a black hole that pulled everyone to its center. 
     Everyone pulled together in the terrible tragedy that took so 
     many lives. There were no problems to race, religion or 
     politics--just fellow humans who needed help and the people 
     of the community responded. Soon offers of help poured in 
     from all quarters of the country. Americans took off work 
     across the country in hopes of helping the victims. Some were 
     only able to offer teddy bears for the wounded children, 
     while others could offer free intensive care; either way 
     though, the lives of all Americans were altered in some 
     form or fashion from that senseless act.
       Captain Scott O'Grady knows what it takes to make a 
     difference. His fighter plane was downed over Bosnian 
     territory, and while the nation feared he was dead or 
     captured, he lay hidden in bushes surviving on ants and 
     rainwater. His life was saved because his fellow soldiers 
     kept listening for him long after common sense told them to 
     give up. The United States military was flawless in his 
     rescue. His willingness to survive as an American played an 
     extremely important role, but the unsung heroes were the men 
     who answered America's call by serving in the Marines. Just 
     by his will to live and to return home, Scott O'Grady made a 
     difference by focusing America's attention on the honor, 
     strength and determination held by our servicemen.
       America's call can be answered by young and old, by a small 
     act such as helping a child learn to read, the heroic deeds 
     of a fireman saving a life or a soldier defending the nation 
     in war. Anything positive counts. It is up to every American 
     to take part in this government. Make a difference, and fill 
     out that ballot. Remember it is your obligation to do 
     something.
       It is time now to answer America's call. Like the woman on 
     the beach saving one starfish at a time, decide today to be 
     that person who can make a difference.

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