[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 89 (Tuesday, June 22, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1348]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO LAURIE A. GOMER

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. ED WHITFIELD

                              of kentucky

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 22, 1999

  Mr. WHITFIELD. Mr. Speaker, I rise before you today to congratulate 
Laurie A. Gomer, the Kentucky winner of the National 1999 Voice of 
Democracy Broadcast Scriptwriting Contest.
  Each year the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States and its 
Ladies Auxiliary conduct the contest. The theme this year was ``My 
Service to America.'' Ms. Gomer's winning essay creatively depicts a 
flight attendant describing different aspect of American patriotism to 
passengers during a flight into America's future. Ms. Gomer succinctly 
describes four different citizen forums dealing with education, 
community activism, participation in elections and the exhibition of 
national pride.
  Ms. Gomer is the daughter of Larry and Mary Ann Gomer of Franklin, 
Kentucky. She is a senior at Franklin-Simpson High School, who has been 
highly involved within numerous student organizations. This well-
rounded young lady will be attending either Center College, Emory 
University, Vanderbilt University or Georgetown University in the fall 
with hopes of pursuing a career in Pediatrics.
  The VFW's Voice of Democracy Program is a National Audio/Essay 
Competition designed to give high school students the opportunity to 
voice their opinion on their responsibility to our country. The VFW and 
its Ladies Auxiliary became involved in assisting the National 
Association of Broadcasters in the 1950's and took over primary 
sponsorship in 1961.
  The National Finals take place in Washington, D.C. when the finals 
judges listen to the fifty-four tapes representing winners from each of 
our fifty states, the District of Columbia, Pacific Areas, Latin 
America/Caribbean and Europe. This year's program involved more than 
6,700 schools and 80,000 students participated while over 4,200 VFW 
Posts and over 3,400 Auxiliaries sponsored the program.
  The VFW provides fifty-six fully-funded scholarships totaling 
$132,000. The overall first-place winner receives a $20,000 scholarship 
and all national finalists receive at least a $1,000 scholarship. The 
total monetary value of scholarships, bonds, and awards provided by VFW 
Posts, Auxiliaries, Districts, County Councils, Departments and 
National amount to over $2.6 million this past year. Ms. Gomer is a 
recipient of the $1,000 scholarship.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate Ms. Gomer for her impressive 
achievement and wish her the best of luck in the future.

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