[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 138 (Monday, October 15, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S10687]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           FLIGHT FOR FREEDOM

  Mr. SMITH of Oregon. Mr. President, ever since the days of the 
pioneers, when folks would gather from miles around to participate in 
community barn raisings, the spirit of neighbor helping neighbor has 
been an Oregon tradition.
  I rise today with great pride in my State to tell you that the 
tradition of neighbor helping neighbor reached new heights these past 
few days in a remarkable project entitled ``Flight for Freedom''.
  Spurred by New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani's call that New York 
City was open for business, Portland Mayor Vera Katz and Portland 
businessman Sho Dozono came up with the idea of sending a delegation of 
Oregonians to New York City to lend whatever support they could to the 
residents of the Big Apple.
  It wasn't too long before 100 Oregonians signed up, and then 200, and 
then 500, and then 750, and when all was said and done, over 1,000 
Oregonians from every corner of my state boarded planes and traveled to 
New York City last weekend.
  This delegation brought a great deal of business to New York hotels, 
restaurants and stores. But more important than that, they brought a 
great message. A message that we are one Nation. A message that the 
3,000 miles between New York City and Oregon was made non-existent on 
September 11. A message that as New Yorkers move forward in the days 
and weeks ahead, Oregonians and Americans will stand with them.
  It was a message expressed in the tee-shirts that members of the 
Flight to Freedom wore and distributed as they marched in the Columbus 
Day Parade. The shirt said simply ``Oregon loves New York.''
  Many participants in the Flight for Freedom have described the trip 
as the most moving and most memorable of their life. They will always 
remember the gratitude New Yorkers extended to them. They will always 
remember the words of a New York policeman who said, ``The gap in the 
New York skyline is incredible. It can't ever be replaced. But we'll 
bounce back with the help of people like you in Oregon.''
  I know my colleague Senator Wyden joins with me in saying to Senator 
Schumer and Senator Clinton that we share the sentiments expressed by 
our fellow Oregonians last weekend. We, too, love New York, and we, 
too, will stand with you every step of the way.
  The State motto of Oregon is ``She flies with her own wings.'' And it 
seems to me that Oregon, New York City, and all of America are flying 
just a little bit higher today because of the spirit and leadership of 
Mayor Vera Katz, Sho Dozono, and all those who made the Flight to 
Freedom such a remarkable success.

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