[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 29 (Wednesday, March 7, 2001)]
[House]
[Page H715]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page H715]]
                              {time}  2015
 RECOGNIZING FIVE CITIZENS FROM MARYLAND FOR THEIR FINE SERVICE TO OUR 
                                 NATION

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Cantor). Under a previous order of the 
House, the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Gilchrest) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call my colleagues' 
attention to the fine service to our Nation by five citizens from my 
Maryland Congressional district: Mr. John Williams of Elkton, Mr. 
Richard Noennich of Elkton, Mr. William Jeanes of Earleville, Mr. 
Donald H. Burton of Chesapeake City, and Mr. Emmett Duke of 
Chestertown.
  Very often we go on with our busy lives and forget that every day our 
government is making decisions and plans that will affect our health, 
our lives and our future. Every day so many of us take for granted that 
someone else will take up the causes for which we care and serve as the 
watchdog over our Federal institutions. Often we are too busy to get 
involved and our government moves ahead without critical oversight from 
the people, leaving accountability to be sacrificed on the altar of 
convenience.
  More than 4 years ago our government, emboldened by the neglect of 
its elected leaders, was determined to move forward on a public works 
project in Maryland to deepen the Chesapeake and Delaware canal that 
connected the Delaware River to the Chesapeake Bay. This particular 
project was both a disservice to the taxpayers and a sin to our fragile 
Chesapeake Bay. A proposal to spend over $100 million on this wasteful 
and unnecessary project was never challenged. Yet five men from 
opposite corners of the community and separate walks of life met by 
chance and formed an alliance in the name of injecting honesty and 
integrity into an intimidating government review process. Led by the 
guiding principle of truth and a commitment to public service, these 
patriots faced the air of entrenched special interest with little 
outside support and ultimately triumphed in their efforts.
  After enduring years of ridicule by editorial writers, being 
stonewalled by government bureaucrats and marginalized by many of their 
own elected officials, they were recently vindicated in their work by 
the rightful collapse of the project when the Corps of Engineers 
finally recognized that they were correct in their assumptions.
  Throughout the entire experience, these five men did not forget that 
one thing that makes America so strong, that democracy only works when 
citizens stay involved. These five citizens committed thousands of 
hours and thousands of dollars to making sure that our institutions of 
government stay committed to the principles of democracy, that our 
government of the people, and by the people remain truly for the 
people. Long after many of us would have withdrawn in frustration and 
moved on, they never lost their sense of optimism about our system of 
government.
  Mr. Speaker, I commend them for this optimism. I commend their 
perseverance, and I commend the example they set for our children and 
grandchildren.
  In his recent inaugural address, our new President reminded us 
sometimes in life we are called to do great things, but every day we 
are called to do small things with great love. These five patriots 
showed that in the small things they did every day and the great 
accomplishment that resulted, they showed great love for their 
community and our country.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking John 
Williams, Richard Noennich, Bill Jeanes, Don Burton and Emmett Duke for 
their service to our nation.
  Ralph Waldo Emerson said in his essay more than a hundred years ago, 
Self-reliance, ``There is no peace without the triumph of principles.'' 
These men epitomize that statement.

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