[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 154 (Thursday, November 8, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2034]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  TRIBUTE TO WHITE KNOLL MIDDLE SCHOOL

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                         HON. JAMES E. CLYBURN

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, November 8, 2001

  Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the students 
and faculty of White Knoll Middle School in Columbia, SC, who, for a 
number of weeks have been raising money for a new fire truck to be 
presented to the New York City Fire Department in the aftermath of the 
terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.
  The students and faculty of White Knoll Middle School have embarked 
on a project that is both uniquely appropriate and inspiring. While 
people all across the country sought meaningful ways to respond 
personally and collectively to the despicable terriorist attacks 
commensurate to the anguish they were feeling, the students and faculty 
at White Knoll Middle School committed to the purchase and ``return'' 
of a fire truck to New York City as an expression of their heartfelt 
empathy, faith, and resolve.
  Mr. Speaker, as a former high school history teacher and devout 
historic preservationist, I share with you and my colleagues the 
discovery of an intriguing historical link. Logbooks kept at the 
Columbia Fire Department Museum in Columbia, SC, reveal that on June 
27, 1867, two years after a Civil War fire destroyed the city, a group 
of New York City firefighters--former Union Soldiers--delivered a fire 
truck to the city of Columbia that, at the time, was using citizen 
bucket brigades. The burning of Columbia left deep wounds in the South 
Carolina psyche, with many harboring ill will against the North for 
decades. However, logbooks indicate that New York firefighters and 
Columbians of that period 134 years ago, looked at the gift as an act 
of healing.
  These students and their teachers are telling the citizens of New 
York City that Columbia remembers. The hearts of New York City 
firefighters reached out to Columbia 134 years ago and now the hearts 
of the children at White Knoll Middle are reaching out to New York. At 
least $350,000 is needed for a new fire engine and they are within a 
few thousand dollars of reaching that figure. White Knoll Middle raised 
$18,000 before their cause entitled South Carolina Remembers, grew to 
include key business leaders, city officials, corporations, civic 
organizations, and philanthropists from the Columbia area such as 
SCANA, SCE&G, Mayor Bob Coble and Mr. Sam Tenenbaum. They raised the 
funds by using word of mouth and old-fashioned techniques such as bake 
sales, car washes, gospel concerts, and booths at the South Carolina 
State Fair.
  The fund raising effort continues to gain momentum as over $330,000 
has been raised to date--including a $50,000 pledge from an anonymous 
donor. White Knoll Middle School's story of benevolence has caught the 
attention of many local and national media outlets and has been 
featured on CBS's ``Early Show,'' as well as in People and Time 
Magazines.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to please join me in 
honoring White Knoll Middle School for their outstanding work as they 
emulate the beautiful and united fabric of America. The students and 
faculty of White Knoll Middle School have taught us once more that 
history has a way of connecting us and kindness has a way of 
multiplying the effects of those connections.

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