[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 92 (Thursday, June 20, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H6683]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              HOOSIER HERO

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Indiana [Mr. McIntosh] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. McINTOSH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to give my report from 
Indiana.
  Every weekend, my wife Ruthie and I travel the second district of 
Indiana. And so often, people share with me special stories about their 
friends and neighbors who make our community a better place. These 
individuals do things all on their own to make us proud.
  Now, I like to call these individuals Hoosier heros. Hoosier heros 
because they reach out and lend a helping hand to those less fortunate.
  Mr. Speaker, Brandon Scott Privett of Pendleton, IN, is a Hoosier 
hero. A Hoosier hero because he generously contributes his time and 
effort helping senior citizens. Brandon is a 12-year-old boy who moved 
from Florida to Pendleton--a small Indiana town last May. Brandon, 
along with his mother and brother, moved in with their grandmother, who 
is an active member of Pet-a-Pal volunteer program.
  The Pet-a-Pal program is an organization that brings animals into the 
nursing homes, to help brighten the days for lonely seniors. Some 46 
volunteers at Pet-a-Pal program bring pets to the nursing homes 
throughout Madison County. There they visit with the residents and form 
new friendships and special bonds.
  Brandon started visiting a nursing home called the Rawlins House with 
his grandmother Greta Butts in May. He immediately befriended a 
gentleman resident of the nursing home, and continued to visit him and 
other residents daily.
  Brandon also started helping the volunteers walk their dogs through 
the nursing homes and does anything that is asked of him. Brandon has 
made a special friend with one of the volunteers who is disabled in the 
use of his arms and has trouble caring for all of the animals himself.
  He helps with the dogs and dresses them in their costumes to walk 
them up and down the halls for the residents to see--sort of a parade. 
Those who know Brandon will tell you so many good things about this 
young boy.
  Jo Rehm, the Pet-a-Pal coordinator says she has never met a young man 
who had such an understanding and loving heart for senior citizens.
  Brandon is an inspiration to all of us, and he and all of the 
volunteers in the Pet-a-Pal program are Hoosier Heroes, Hoosier Heroes 
because they make our communities a better place to live.
  Mr. Speaker, that is my report for Indiana today, on July 20.

                          Pet-a-Pal Volunteers

       Deb Arnold, Pam Bennett, Sally Bilyeu, Lisette and Steve 
     Brenner, Bob and Mary Bridgewater, Howard Wile, Carol 
     Loughridge, Terri Towner, Anna May Davis, Sally Wilding, 
     Charlie Grinnell, Sheri Hineman, Roxanne and Argyl Meeker, 
     and Brandon Privett.
       Eulala Roettger, Charlie Safford, Dottie Smith, Carrie 
     Smith, Dawn Truex, Nancy Clement, Lee Ann Wallen, Julie Cox, 
     Meg Spangler, Mary Lou Griffey, Esther Gray, John Coulter, 
     Ron Miller, and Mark Reeves.
       Betty Bryan, Betty Wainscott, Greta Butts, Sandy Warden, 
     Amy Burton, Avis Witt, Ingrid and Mark Childs, Debbie 
     Swanson, Rick Garrett, Jo Rehm, Kathleen Buck, Jennifer 
     Kokos, Charles and Marsha Ostler, and Bid Pike.

                          ____________________