[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 107 (Friday, July 27, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1459-E1460]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TOP TEN ALL AMERICA CITY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. KAREN McCARTHY

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 27, 2001

  Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize 
Independence, Missouri, a city in my district recently named a Top Ten 
All America City by the National Civic League for the third time. Of 93 
cities that competed, Independence was unanimously selected by the 12 
member panel of civic leaders during the first round. Independence 
previously received this honor in 1961 primarily for its city charter 
revisions. In 1981, it took top honors based on the work of the 
Independence Neighborhood Councils. On June 23, 2001, Independence 
again proved itself worthy of being the hometown of former President 
Harry Truman.
  David Rein, a spokesman for the National Civic League, describes the 
winners as ``models of exemplary grassroots problem solving,'' which 
perfectly describes the Independence delegation's message of ``Together 
We Can.'' The special designation of All America City pays tribute to 
Independence's unique spirit and inventive approaches in dealing with 
youth, infrastructure, and other civic issues. The participating 
businesses, non-profit organizations, government agencies, and schools 
did a tremendous job demonstrating the rehabilitation of older 
communities and the dedication of its youth to public service. To win a 
recognition whose stated goal is to honor ``communities that teach the 
rest of us how to face difficult situations and meet those challenges 
in innovative and collaborative ways'' is an achievement Independence 
can be proud of for years to come.
  Each city was judged on three efforts toward community betterment. 
Independence chose its street and park improvements, Midtown and Truman 
Road Corridor Project, and the William Chrisman High School Association 
for Chrisman Excellence ``ACE'' youth volunteer program. Independence 
has made $150 million worth of improvements to its transportation 
infrastructure in the past three years, and this past year 325 Chrisman 
students involved in the ACE program volunteered more than 11,000 hours 
of their time in community service. Those students who volunteered 40 
hours or more were rewarded with a varsity letter.
  Even more impressive, the City won this honor after overcoming a 
period of decline in its public facilities as well as civic apathy. In 
his presentation to the All America City judges Truman impersonator Ray 
Ettinger, while holding a replica of the famous ``Dewey Defeats 
Truman'' newspaper, declared to the jury, ``I know a great comeback 
when I see one.''
  Mr. Speaker, please join me in honoring the 50 delegates and Mayor 
Ron Stewart who represented Independence in this competition. This 
award reflects the City's civic leaders and its citizens, whose 
commitment to bettering their hometown made these accomplishments 
possible. I concur with Lenneal J. Henderson, one of the All America 
City judges, who said, ``There was no debate about Independence.'' Mr. 
Speaker, please join me in congratulating the City of Independence for 
its excellence. I am proud to represent them.

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