[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 137 (Monday, October 5, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1902-E1903]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  SALUTING THE MEMORY OF SANDY ANDREWS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHARLES H. TAYLOR

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, October 5, 1998

  Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, in 1991, a young woman in 
my district, Sandy Andrews, was tragically killed when a train struck 
her vehicle at a railroad crossing.
  But sometimes, out of such tragedies, come good things.
  Sandy Andrews was active in youth sports in North Cove, North 
Carolina, where she lived with her husband and three sons. So to honor 
her memory, her family donated approximately 10 acres along U.S. 
Highway 221 for building a park. With the involvement of the McDowell 
County government, many volunteers, and local grant monies, that park 
was built.
  On Saturday, September 12, 1998, the Sandy Andrews Memorial Park was 
opened, providing a ball field with dugouts, a playground, basketball 
court, and a volleyball court.
  In this day when so many senseless tragedies occur, the building of 
this park is a tribute to both the memory of Sandy Andrews, and the 
resolution of her family and her community to honor her memory.
  It is an honor to share the story of that tribute with my colleagues 
today.

                [From the McDowell News, Sept. 14, 1998]

       Family Hopes Memorial Park Will Benefit County's Children

                          (By Ragan Robinson)

       A host of North Cove residents and county officials were on 
     hand for the dedications of the Sandy Andrews Memorial Park 
     Saturday morning.
       Approximately 10 acres of land located on U.S. 221 North 
     was donated for the park by Roger, Tom and Louis Andrews.

[[Page E1903]]

       The county put up funds, enlisted volunteer and inmate 
     labor and received grant money to add the ballfield, dugout, 
     playground. basketball court and volleyball court.
       It was named after Roger Andrews' late wife, Sandy, who was 
     killed in 1991 when a train hit her vehicle at a nearby 
     railroad crossing.
       ``This could not have happened without the generosity of 
     the Andrews family,'' said Commission Chairman Butch Hogan 
     during the dedication.
       Sandy Andrews would have been very excited to see the park 
     finished, according to her family.
       She was involved in youth sports in the North Cove 
     community, where she and her husband lived.
       ``It's a great tribute to a great woman,'' said Hogan.
       Ben McCall, president of North Cove Youth Activities, spoke 
     to the group, saying that area residents are proud of their 
     community and of their children.
       ``America will hopefully return to a lot of the things 
     North Cove never left,'' he noted. ``Ours are good kids and 
     they're worth our effort. This is only a portion of what we 
     should do for them.''
       He also praised the hard work many in the community had put 
     into making the park a reality, adding that Roger Andrews had 
     spent many long, hot days laboring to get it finished.
       Roger Andrews acknowledged the effort so many had made and 
     said watching the park benefit local children would be all 
     the reward he and his family wanted for their investment.
       After introducing Sandy Andrews' three sons, Benji, Brian 
     and Lee, he read a chapter from Corinthians which he said had 
     been his late wife's favorite.
       She always had tremendous amount of patience, he said, and 
     possessed the ability to endure ad great deal without 
     complaint.
       ``Charity, which Sandy possessed such a great measure of, 
     is the only thing that exists beyond the grave,'' he said. 
     ``We got this done with the inspiration she left with us.''
       After the dedication, organizers held a potato sack rack, a 
     three-legged race, a wheel-barrow race and an egg and spoon 
     race.
       There was also youth softball, volleyball, soccer, 
     basketball and softball for the visitors.
                                  ____



                [From the McDowell News, Sept. 15, 1998]

              Park a Tribute to Both Andrews and Community

       The Sandy Andrews Memorial Park in North Cove is a triumph 
     born of tragedy.
       Sandy Andrews, a wife and mother who was active in her 
     community, died in 1991 when a train struck her vehicle at a 
     railroad crossing. The Andrews family donated 10 acres of 
     land off U.S. 221 for a recreation park that would help keep 
     Sandy's memory alive and provide a much needed place in North 
     Cove for people to come together for fun and fellowship.
       On Saturday, county officials, community leaders, members 
     of the Andrews family and residents of North Cove helped 
     dedicate that park.
       ``This could not have happened without the generosity of 
     the Andrews family,'' said County Commission Chairman Butch 
     Hogan.
       And it could not have happened without a joint effort 
     between the community and local government.
       The park is an example of what can be done through 
     cooperation. While the red tape and bureaucracy inherent to 
     government can often be frustrating, this is one time when 
     all the pieces came together.
       The county earmarked money for the park, secured grants to 
     help with its development and coordinated with the state to 
     provide inmate labor for the project. Roger Andrews, husband 
     of Sandy, spent a great deal of time along with many other 
     members of the community helping with its development.
       The park is an asset to North Cove and it stands as a 
     tribute to a good woman, a generous family and a caring 
     community.

     

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