[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 5 (Monday, January 31, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Page S163]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                TRIBUTE TO THE EMPLOYEES OF CATERPILLAR

 Mr. COVERDELL. Madam President, every once in awhile, we are 
reminded that all the important issues we are working on pale in 
comparison to the countless acts of charity and compassion that occur 
all across America on a daily basis. I want to recount for my 
colleagues one such act, which occurred in my home state of Georgia, 
appropriately enough, during the holiday season--an act that puts a 
human face on the compassion that is innate in the American people.
  A.J. Bentley III, 3\1/2\ years old, is a constituent of mine who is 
dying of brain cancer. While A.J.'s prognosis looks bleak, the disease 
has not taken away his passion and fascination with tractors, farm and 
earth moving equipment--the kind which Georgia is blessed to have 
plenty. Upon learning of A.J.'s terminal illness, our office contacted 
the good people at Caterpillar to see what they could do to lift the 
spirits of a dying boy and his family. Caterpillar reacted without 
hesitation and pulled out all of the stops. First, Caterpillar offered 
to have A.J. tour their plant in Peoria, Illinois so he could see first 
hand how all the equipment was built and how it worked. Unfortunately, 
A.J.'s medical condition prevented him from being able to fly to 
Illinois. Plan ``B'' was to have A.J. visit the Forest Products 
Division of Caterpillar in LaGrange, Georgia. On the day his dream 
would be fulfilled, A.J. was not feeling well and unable to make the 1 
hour drive to LaGrange. Undeterred, the people of Caterpillar would not 
let A.J.'s illness keep them from fulfilling his dream. Because 
everyone at the LaGrange plant wanted a chance to help, there was a 
lottery that day in LaGrange. The grand prize was the chance to drive 
to A.J.'s hometown of Thomaston, Georgia and make his dream come true 
in person. The lucky few saw first-hand the joy of a young boy, decked 
out in his Caterpillar hat and playing on his new Caterpillar equipment 
that he loves so much. As the group was leaving to return to LaGrange, 
A.J. waved good-bye, then with a burst of energy proclaimed ``this is 
the best day of my life''. All who helped make this possible, I know, 
feel their own happiness that words could never adequately express.
  There are days when all we seem to hear about is how people have 
become so self-absorbed in their own lives. I offer this example as a 
case in point of the compassion and good will that exists in LaGrange, 
in Georgia, and all across this Nation--people who are making a 
difference on a daily basis--one child, one American at a time. I 
salute the people of Caterpillar and I am humbled by their act of 
kindness. I know I speak for all of us when I say, A.J. has touched all 
of our hearts and he and his family will always be in our thoughts and 
prayers.

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