[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 37 (Tuesday, April 9, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E462]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


BESTOWING ``AMERICAN SPIRIT AWARDS'' UPON WESTERN NORTH CAROLINIANS FOR 
     THEIR RESPONSE TO THE SEPTEMBER 11TH, 2001 ATTACK UPON AMERICA

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                         HON. CHARLES H. TAYLOR

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, April 9, 2002

  Mr. TAYLOR. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor these residents of the 
Eleventh Congressional District of North Carolina, whose actions in 
response to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks provided aid and 
relief to the victims, boosted morale and patriotism, and demonstrated 
the best of the American Spirit. Hundreds of their fellow citizens 
joined in honoring them at our annual Prayer and Patriotic Breakfast in 
Asheville on Saturday, March 16th, 2002. It was with a great deal of 
pride that I bestowed upon each of them the American Spirit Award for 
2002.
  Kermit Tolley, Jr.; Buncombe County; Battling liver failure, he 
helped load Hearts with Hands goods being shipped to NYC and inspired 
many others by his determination to help others in need.
  Hendersonville High School Student Government, Henderson County; Brad 
Phillis and Lauren Rogers accepting on behalf of Hendersonville High 
School and 16 Henderson County Public Schools who raised money for 
victims; The Hendersonville High School Student Council raised $8,555 
for relief efforts.
  Carolina First Mortgage; Henderson County; Elizabeth Plaisance 
accepted the award on behalf of the business, which raised $37,500 on 
the street corners of Hendersonville for the Red Cross.
  Manual Woodworkers and Weavers; Henderson County; The company donated 
$355,000 from sale of a special 9-11 throw blanket which it designed, 
produced and marketed; Teresa Hutchinson and Molly Oates accepted the 
award on behalf of their coworkers.
  Sandra Pitts; Henderson County; As the operator of a dry cleaning 
business, she showed America's gratitude to servicemen and veterans by 
dry cleaning thousands of military uniforms at no charge.
  Mike West; Buncombe County; This Hearts With Hands Field Services 
Director was instrumental in collecting, packing and delivering 
supplies to New York and remained on station as a member of the 
Operation Heavy Heart team.
  Sunshine Elementary School Fifth Grade; Rutherford County; Students 
organized a patriotic program, honored local firefighters, and raised 
$250 for the Points of Light Foundation; Accepting the award on behalf 
of the school were Principal Wayne Litaker and Melanie Smith.
  Jerry VeHaun, Buncombe County; Jerry worked at Ground Zero in NYC for 
12 days on the 7PM to 7AM shift helping with the recover of bodies from 
the collapsed Twin Towers.
  Madison High School Student Government; These students held a Spirit 
Chain fundraiser and raised $600 for the Red Cross New York Relief 
Effort.; Sara Cooley, sponsor, and Josh Harder, president of the 
student council, accepted the award on behalf of the school.
  Mars Hill Elementary School, Madison County; Mrs. Davis' class wrote 
support letters to President Bush in the wake of the tragedy; student 
Cody Splain and teacher Caroline Davis accepted the recognition on 
behalf of the class.
  Chuck Davis, Polk County; He initially helped in NYC with Red Cross 
kitchen, then helped set up a respite center at Ground Zero at which 
recovery workers could recuperate.
  Tanner Companies Foundation, Rutherford County; The company matched 
employee relief contributions resulting in $160,000 in gifts; David 
Owens accepted the award on behalf of the company.
  Columbia Carolina Corporation, McDowell County; Employees sold tee 
shirts, which lifted spirits and raised $2,400 for relief efforts; 
General Manager Jeff Tuckey and Human Resources Manager Steve Franklin 
accepted the award on behalf of their coworkers.
  Pisgah Forest Rotary Club, Transylvania County; The club donated $600 
from proceeds of their Blues Concert to the relief efforts in NY, PA, 
and Washington, DC, and also contributed an additional $347 to the 
Transylvania County Sheriff's Department; Club members Terrell West and 
Harry Hafer accepted the award on behalf of the club.
  Lisa Waters and Ida Stafford, Clay County; Mountain Home Nursing 
Service spearheaded a fundraiser for the children of the victims of the 
9-11 attacks on the World Trade Centers. They organized a ``God Bless 
America'' youth rally which raised $600.
  South Macon Elementary School 4th Grade, Macon County; Teacher Vickie 
Hubbs' class adopted the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk and sent 
patriotic letters and pictures to the servicemen and women stationed on 
the ship, which is involved in Operation Enduring Freedom. Students 
Chelsea Powell and Mariah Cousineau accepted the award for the class.
  Tim Radford and Shane Curtis; Cherokee County; Radford, of radio 
station WKRK in Murphy, in conjunction with Curtis, of Circuit World, 
raised money for World Trade Center victims, delivered the money 
personally to New York, and broadcast a live remote back to the 
citizens of Murphy.
  Lew Aabye, Polk County; Lou helped as a Red Cross volunteer in NYC 
kitchens; Accepting for Lew Aabye is Elizabeth Daniel, Chapter 
Chairperson of the American Red Cross.
  Muggs Corpening, Polk County; He served as a volunteer delivering 
meals in NYC after the 9-11 attacks.
  Clyde Volunteer Fire Department, Haywood County; The department 
served as a collection site for relief goods donated to Hearts With 
Hands and helped raise over $12,000 for that organization as well as 
for the 9-11 Relief Fund. Accepting on behalf of the department were 
Fire Chief Joey Webb, Sr., and Capt. Bennie Coleman.
  Murphy Volunteer Fire Department, Cherokee County; These volunteers 
raised $20,000 for the families of fallen New York City Fire Department 
firefighters; Chief Al Lovingood and assistant chiefs WC King and Mark 
Thigpen accepted the award on behalf of the department.
  Patricia Pirog for ``Operation Toasty Toes,'' Henderson County; 
Volunteers make knitted socks to warm the feet of servicemen and women 
stationed overseas. This past Thursday, the Henderson County Chapter 
shipped off a huge box of sox to the NC 211th and 210th MP Units now 
serving in Afghanistan.
  Kelly Robertson and Beth McIntosh, Yancey County; These two ladies 
set up a drop-off point for Yancey County at the Rescue Squad Building 
and collected and organized two weeks worth of donated goods.
  East Rutherford Middle School, Rutherford County; The students at the 
school raised $4,100 for relief efforts. Libby Sears and Judy Gettys 
accepted the award on behalf of the school.

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