[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 28 (Wednesday, March 13, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E333]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


     TRIBUTE TO STUDENTS OF ALL SAINTS ACADEMY IN BREESE, ILLINOIS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOHN SHIMKUS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 13, 2002

  Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the students 
of All Saints Academy in Breese, Illinois, and their important and 
heartwarming efforts to help those affected by terrorism.
  On October 11th, 2001, President Bush made a request of the children 
of America. He challenged each of them to earn and send in one dollar. 
This money, sent by the kindness of the children of the United States, 
will be used to reach out to the unfortunate children in far off 
Afghanistan.
  The students of All Saints heard and met that challenge. I recently 
received a check for $1,000, made out to America's Fund for Afghan 
Children--that's more than one dollar for each student in All Saints, 
and more than our President requested.
  The students, parents, faculty, and members of the Breese community 
should be recognized for this fine effort. The terrorists believed they 
could accomplish their goals with the murder of American innocents; but 
the American citizens have responded with aid to the innocents of 
Afghanistan. Nothing else could better show how utterly Al Qaeda has 
failed.
  Mr. Speaker, as President Bush said in his announcement of the Fund 
for Afghan Children, ``One of the truest weapons that we have against 
terrorism is to show the world the true strength of character of the 
American people.'' The children of All Saints have shown that 
character, and they deserve our thanks. May God bless them, and may God 
bless the United States of America.

                          ____________________