[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 71 (Friday, June 9, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E937]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


 GARRETT A. MORGAN TECHNOLOGY AND TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM POETRY CONTEST

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                         HON. JAMES P. McGOVERN

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, June 8, 2000

  Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the eight Regional 
winners from my Congressional district of the Garrett A. Morgan 
Technology and Transportation Futures Program Poetry Contest. It is 
with great pleasure that I congratulate the following talented students 
for their exceptional submissions--Emily Erkkinen, Kerri McCarthy, Jack 
Bavaro, Krista Duchnowski, Caroline Flannagan, and Luke Nickerson of 
Clinton, Massachusetts; Mackenzie Bernier of E.S. Brown School in 
Swansea Massachusetts; and Timothy Leger of Thacher Elementary School 
in Attleboro Massachusetts.
  The Futures Program is named for Garrett Augustus Morgan, one of the 
country's finest innovators in public protection and public safety. In 
1923 he patented the nation's first traffic signal, which was used 
throughout North America before being replaced by our current system. 
Seven years earlier Mr. Morgan had made national news for using a gas 
mask that he had developed to enable him to go into a tunnel under Lake 
Erie to rescue several trapped men. In his honor, the Program was 
created to better prepare America's students--with math, science, and 
technology skills--for entering the transportation workforce in the 
21st century.
  Following are the winning poems. I'm sure all of my colleagues join 
me in congratulating all of this year's participants.

                    Region 1: ME, MA, NH, RI, CT, VT

      1st Place: Emily Erkkinen Clinton Middle School Clinton, MA

       An Airplane can fly very high. I would like to fly an 
     airplane. Right through the clouds I would go. Pilots drive 
     the airplane. Lots of birds fly along. A great way of 
     transportation. Now the airplane has landed. End of the ride, 
     let's go home.

   2nd Place: Kerri McCarthy Clinton Middle School Clinton, MA 01510

       How that hot air balloon floats up in the sky Oh look, 
     there's another and another and one more oh my That one has 
     purple all over the tie And Look! I see a purple line I think 
     I see a blue one too Round and round the higher it floats 
     Balloons float up in the air And all of them spread 
     everywhere Look at the purple one Look at the blue Oh how 
     pretty they look don't you think they do? Oh no one just 
     popped what are we going to do! Now I'm off bye, bye, I do 
     miss you too!

     3rd Place: Jack Bavaro Clinton Middle School Clinton, MA 01510

       Hot Air balloons don't go very far They're even slower than 
     a car. But they can glide in the sky. Just like a bird flying 
     high.

                Region 1: ME, MA, NH, RI, CT, VT (Grades
                                  4-6)

   1st Place: Mackenzie Bernier E. S. Brown School Swansea, MA 02777


                           ``Transportation''

       What makes transportation really neat, Is that we no longer 
     have to use our feet. We can ride a bike, or drive a car, We 
     can take a plane to go very far. We can hop on a bus to get 
     out of the rain, We can catch a subway, or take a train. 
     There are ferry boats and cruise lines too, And trolley cars 
     for me and you. There are great big trucks for moving 
     freight, And limos for that special date. Who knows, someday 
     very soon, There might be transportation to the moon!!

2nd Place: Timothy Leger, Thacher Elementary School Attleboro, MA 02703


                             ``Transport''

       Trains transfer trucks to Turkey. Cars carry crackers to 
     Colorado. Submarines ship snowboards somewhere. Dump-trucks 
     deliver dirt to Denver. Helicopters haul huge hats. Canoes 
     carry cats to California. Boats bring bicycles back.

  3rd Place: Krista Duchnowski Clinton Middle School Clinton, MA 01510

       No boats, planes, cars? Walking on your own two feet? Not 
     in this day and age. Walk to school? Carry my books? Take the 
     bus I say. Dream of crossing the ocean? Never see France? 
     Let's fly my friend. Paddle to the islands? Take a raft? Hey 
     dude, fire up the motor! Run across the country? Get tired 
     and SWEAT? Chugga, chugga, take the train! Walk, run, paddle, 
     WORK? Do it yourself? Transportation does it for me!

             Region 1: ME, MA, NH, RI, CT, VT (Grades 7-8)

 1st Place: Caroline Flannagan Clinton Middle School Clinton, MA 01510

       Cavemen used the feet they had Until the idea of a wheel we 
     had Ships allowed us to sail the seas Making men's dreams 
     realities The car was invented as time went by Orville and 
     Wilbur soon did fly Rockets and spaceships were shot into 
     space Bringing man to a whole new place Transportation keeps 
     us on the go In the future we don't know.

   3rd Place: Luke Nickerson Clinton Middle School Clinton, MA 01510

       Henry Ford, and the Wright Brothers were men with vision, 
     Just like the man who invented the television. This Country 
     uses modes of transportation like planes, autos, and trains 
     To go to work so that we can invent more, and use our brains. 
     Now that we have reached a destination, Aren't you proud of 
     this great nation? For the resources and modes of 
     transportation, Just think, in 1969 of Armstrong and space 
     exploration. We need to stop, and think of where we are 
     going, If flight is in your plans, try a 747 Boeing.

     

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