[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 43 (Monday, April 20, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S3300]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO FLORENCE KIRKNER

 Mr. D'AMATO. Mr. President, I rise today to pay homage to Ms. 
Florence Kirkner. Today, we focus on Ms. Kirkner's 50 years of 
volunteering with the National Ski Patrol. The National Ski Patrol was 
formed 60 years ago as a volunteer organization that has been granted a 
Congressional Charter as a charity similar to the Boys and Girls 
Scouts. This organization formed an army division that could fight in 
winter weather conditions during World War II. Additionally, Senator 
Bob Dole was affiliated with this division which is known as the Tenth 
Mountain Division. This division was the only civilian run division in 
the Army's history. Today, the Tenth Mountain division is stationed at 
Fort Drum, New York.
  I would also like to take this opportunity to commend Ms. Kirkner's 
participation in many other community activities such as the American 
Red Cross, the Girl Scouts and the YMCA.
  After reviewing Ms. Kirkner's outstanding achievements, I decided an 
acknowledgment of her awards should be presented. Ms. Kirkner received 
a Citizen of the Week Award in 1996 and in 1997 she received the 
Citizen of the Year Award. Previously, because of Ms. Kirkner's 
excellent community service, she received the Merit Award in 1985 and 
the Volunteer of the year award in 1986. Ms. Kirkner was twice 
nominated for the Clara Barton Award in 1988 and again in 1990. 
Additionally in 1988, the Volunteer of the Year Award was acclaimed to 
Ms. Kirkner. Furthermore, after serving over 15,000 hours of community 
service, Ms. Kirkner was presented with the Service Award in addition 
to the 50 Year Service Award.
  Ms. Kirkner has also received awards for the National Appointment 
#84, the Outstanding Service Award for the North Bay Region, the 
Patroller of the Year Award for the Western New York Region, 2 Yellow 
Merit Stars, the Purple Merit Star, the Avalanche Patch #82, the 
Eastern Division Certificate of Appreciation, the Red Cross Certificate 
of Merit, the Certificate of Appreciation for the Western New York 
Region, the Ambassador of the Slopes Award for the Western New York 
Region, the Mike Reid Outstanding Instructor Award for the Western New 
York Region, the Canadian Ski Patrol Special Award and the Green Angel 
Award from the Girl Scouts.
  I would also like to acknowledge Ms. Kirkner for holding numerous 
offices in her lifetime. She has held offices such as Co-Patrol Leader 
for Donner Ski Ranch; Regional Training Officer for Western New York; 
Regional First Aid Chairman in North Bay, California; Avalanche 
Instructor for National #224; ARC First Aid Instructor and Trainer; ARC 
CPR Instructor and Trainer; ARC Water Safety Instructor and Trainer; 
ARC Small Craft Safety Instructor and Shift Leader at Kissing Bridge 
Ski Patrol.
  In addition Ms. Kirkner has managed to conduct training courses and 
workshops such as the Avalanche Patch Course in Slide Mt., Nevada; Sled 
Handling Seminars in Squaw Valley, California; the Mountain Rescue 
Course at the Sugar Bowl; Mountaineering at Circle M; Divisional Jr. 
Training Seminars for 11 years and National Jr. Training Seminars for 4 
years. Moreover, Ms. Kirkner led Fall Forums workshops too numerous to 
count from New York City to Sacramento, from Portland, to Maine and has 
been an instructor every year of Patrol CPR since the beginning of Ski 
Patrol, CPR.
  Ms. Kirkner is truly one of those unique individuals who has given a 
lifetime of community service. Her contributions to society will always 
be recognized as encouragement and hope to American citizens 
everywhere, and reminds us that the phrase ``it is better to give than 
to receive'' still rings to be true.

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