[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 25 (Wednesday, March 8, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E244]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               HONORING JASON REDMOND OF SOLDOTNA, ALASKA

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. DON YOUNG

                               of alaska

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 8, 2000

  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to congratulate 
and honor a young Alaska student from my district who has achieved 
national recognition for exemplary volunteer service in his community. 
Jason Redmond of Soldotna, Alaska has just been named one of my state's 
top honorees in The 2000 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program, 
an annual honor conferred on the most impressive student volunteers in 
each state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
  Mr. Redmond is being recognized for his hard work and dedication in 
organizing a free public bicycle system for residents of his town who 
do not drive or own their own bicycles. He has volunteered his time by 
getting out into his community and making a difference in people's 
lives.
  In light of numerous statistics that indicate Americans today are 
less involved in their communities than they once were, it's vital that 
we encourage and support the kind of selfless contribution this young 
citizen has made. People of all ages need to think more about how we, 
as individual citizens, can work together at the local level to ensure 
the health and vitality of our towns and neighborhoods. Young 
volunteers like Mr. Redmond are inspiring examples to all of us, and 
are among our brightest hopes for a better tomorrow.
  The program that brought this young role model to our attention, The 
Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, was created by The Prudential 
Insurance Company of America in partnership with the National 
Association of Secondary School Principals in 1995 to impress upon all 
youth volunteers that their contributions are critically important and 
highly valued, and to inspire other young people to follow their 
example. In only five years, the program has become the nation's 
largest youth recognition effort based solely on community service, 
with nearly 75,000 youngsters participating since its inception.
  Mr. Redmond should be extremely proud to have been singled out from 
such a large group of dedicated volunteers. I heartily applaud Mr. 
Redmond for his initiative in seeking to make his community a better 
place to live, and for the positive impact he has had on the lives of 
others. He has demonstrated a level of commitment and accomplishment 
that is truly extraordinary in today's world, and deserves our sincere 
admiration and respect. His actions show that young Americans can, and 
do, play important roles in our communities, and that America's 
community spirit continues to hold tremendous promise for the future.

                          ____________________