[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 46 (Thursday, April 23, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E668-E669]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                     COMMENDING SHELBY CORBITT VICK

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BOB SCHAFFER

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 23, 1998

  Mr. BOB SCHAFFER of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to talk about 
the value of an excellent education. I would like to tell you about 
Shelby Vick, a student from my hometown of Fort Collins, Colorado.
  Shelby Corbitt Vick was born November 15, 1986 and is the eldest 
child and only daughter of Joseph James Vick and Patricia Burns Vick. 
She was born in Fort Collins. She attends St. Joseph Catholic 
Elementary School as a 5th grader. Shelby has one younger brother, 
Emmett James Andrew Vick. Emmett is nine years old and was also born in 
Fort Collins.

[[Page E669]]

  Shelby's mother and father both graduated from the University of 
Texas at Austin. Her mother is a homemaker and volunteers extensively 
at Shelby's school. Her father is an attorney who practices in Fort 
Collins and Greeley, Colorado.
  Shelby's interests include horseback riding and anything to do with 
horses. Shelby is a voracious reader. Shelby enjoys playing volleyball 
and basketball on her school's team. Shelby plans to attend college and 
become an author writing stories about horses.
  Recently Shelby entered a nationwide history essay contest. She has 
written an exceptional essay which was chosen as the national winner of 
the 5th Grade American History Essay Contest sponsored by the National 
Society, Daughters of the American Revolution. Mr. Speaker, I hereby 
submit Miss Vicki's winning essay for the Record and enthusiastically 
commend it to my colleagues.

              ``Forts in American History''--Fort Laramie

                            (By Shelby Vick)

       Fort Laramie is a national historic site in southeastern 
     Wyoming. It was not an ordinary fort. It did not have any 
     walls, moats, or watch towers. A visit to this landmark 
     conjures up images of the old west. This remote site was an 
     important stop for many people, yesterday and today. Now you 
     are invited to travel back in time to a ``Grand Old Post''.
       Fort Laramie, earlier called Fort William, was first built 
     of cottonwood logs by Fitzpatrick and Sublette in 1834. The 
     fort was later moved upstream along the Laramie River and 
     renamed Fort Laramie after Joseph LaRamee. Fort Laramie is on 
     the west bank of the Laramie River, halfway between St. Louis 
     and the West coast.
       Fort Laramie attracted many traders. Famous visitors 
     included Kit Carson, Jim Bridger, Buffalo Bill, Brigham 
     Young, Horace Greeley, Colonel William Collins, General 
     Dodge, General Sherman, and Chief Red Cloud. The American Fur 
     Company was using Fort Laramie as a trading post when 
     military authorities, recognizing the need for a chain of 
     forts to protect the settlers, purchased the fort for $4,000.
       Plans were drawn up for a traditional ``fort'' with a 
     blockhouse and stockade to be built. Since lumber had to be 
     hauled from forty miles away, the blockhouses and wall were 
     never built. The only defensive structure at Fort Laramie was 
     the old adobe fort. There were many other structures, 
     including a store, barracks, a corral, a hospital, and a 
     warehouse.
       The army recruited many poor and often recent immigrants as 
     soldiers, some paid as little as $13.00 a month. Soldiers 
     found the frontier life boring and isolated, so there were 
     many deserters.
       Weather was harsh on the Wyoming plains and it was a 
     greater enemy than the Indians. Summers were very hot. 
     Winters were sometimes bitter with wind temperatures dropping 
     to -40 degrees. Amputations of frozen hands and feet were 
     common.
       Fort Laramie is along the Oregon Trail, the Black Hills 
     Gold Rush Trail and is the beginning of the Bozeman Trail. 
     Settlers stopped to get fresh oxen and mules, wash clothes 
     and to mail letters back home. In 1850 over 37,000 settlers 
     registered at Fort Laramie. Everyone rested, wagons were 
     repaired, and food stocks resupplied.
       In 1851 over 10,000 Indians (Sioux, Crow, Arapahoe, and 
     Cheyenne) met and agreed upon a peace treaty at Fort Laramie. 
     The tribes could neither fight with each other nor attack 
     settlers. Whites would be allowed to have roads through 
     Indian lands and the government would give the tribes 
     gifts. Annual payments of $50,000 per year for fifty years 
     would be paid to the Indians along with educational 
     programs to help them become farmers.
       Fort Laramie served as a Pony Express stop in 1860. In 
     1861, when the telegraph arrived, the Pony Express ended. 
     When the telegraph was relocated to southern Wyoming, the 
     settlers also took this new route, and left Fort Laramie 
     isolated. In 1863 Bozeman Trail settlers began traveling 
     through Fort Laramie again. The government used military 
     activity along the Bozeman Trail, as a diversion to keep the 
     Indians from interfering with the construction of the Union 
     Pacific Railroad across southern Wyoming.
       Fort Laramie was a grand old post with an important place 
     in American history. Fort Laramie's significance as a supply 
     stop in the settling of the American West is unquestioned. 
     Many a soldier and weary traveler found comfort or hardship 
     at this fort. One hundred sixty three years ago travelers and 
     pioneers came to Fort Laramie on horses and in wagons on 
     their journey. Today tourists are coming in cars to 
     understand the fort's past.


  Mr. Speaker, education is the key to success for all Americans. 
Quality education is provided at schools like St. Joseph's Elementary 
School. St. Joseph's Elementary School was established in 1926 by St. 
Joseph's Parish. There are 242 students at St. Joseph's and it is the 
only Catholic elementary school in Fort Collins. The school has 
published a statement of philosophy which I urge my colleagues to 
consider.

                Basic Philosophy of Saint Joseph School

       We affirm the purpose of Saint Joseph School is the 
     Christian, intellectual, social and physical growth of each 
     child. Our aim is the development of the total person with 
     Catholic, Christian attitudes and values, and skills fitting 
     him/her for life in our society and in God's Kingdom.
       We recognize the need for high academic achievement in our 
     rapidly advancing and complex world and are dedicated to 
     providing the environment best fulfilling this need. We 
     expect our children, reflecting their individual abilities, 
     to achieve in academic areas at a rate equal to or greater 
     than surrounding schools.
       We recognize that not all societies and/or communities 
     share in our Christian values and/or belief. We are dedicated 
     to preparing each child for his/her place in our society. It 
     is our desire to instill in each child a working knowledge of 
     the Catholic faith.
       Further recognizing our physical nature, we are dedicated 
     to developing the child's physical talents and training him/
     her to use these talents for the general welfare of society.
       With the Second Vatican Council we affirm our conviction 
     that the Catholic School ``retains its immense importance in 
     the circumstances of our time'' and we recall the duty of 
     Catholic parents ``to entrust their children to Catholic 
     Schools when and where this is possible''.

  Mr. Speaker, St. Joe's is dedicated to educating devoted Christian 
citizens to contribute to their community. St. Joseph's Elementary 
School has a strong, demanding curriculum that challenges the students 
to meet high expectations. The educators along with involved parents 
continue to produce bright students who are great assets to the 
northern Colorado community.
  Mr. Speaker, it has been my privilege to describe the talent of Miss 
Vick to my colleagues today. Shelby is a shining example of what a 
child can do given the proper academic instruction and the best 
possible upbringing. Obviously, I'm exceedingly proud of her 
accomplishments and the great work being done by all the good folks at 
St. Joe's

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