[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 74 (Friday, June 7, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S5256]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 TRIBUTE TO ED LAWRENCE, WILDLIFE ARTIST WORKING TO HELP U.S. SOLDIERS

 Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, now, more than ever, Americans 
are expressing their patriotism. Patriotism means different things to 
different people, but for some, like Ed Lawrence, patriotism comes 
through his ``determination'' to help others.
  Mr. Lawrence, a wildlife artist from McGregor, IA, is a retired game 
warden and a U.S. Air Force veteran. After hearing President George W. 
Bush's address to the Nation following the September 11 attacks, 
Lawrence was moved into taking action. Although unsure of what 
contribution he could make, he retreated to his studio and began to 
sketch. Out of his sketches rose images of the American bald eagle with 
the Stars and Stripes waving behind it. These heart-felt images became 
the foundation for Mr. Lawrence's work, ``Determination.''
  With ``Determination,'' Mr. Lawrence was able to give back to the 
nation. At the end of last year, Mr. Lawrence devoted his energy to the 
Grant Wood Chapter of the Red Cross in Cedar Rapids. From the proceeds 
of his ``Determination'' prints, the group was able to pay the shipping 
costs of care packages sent to troops on hardship assignments in Saudi 
Arabia, Bosnia, Kosovo, Kuwait and Uzbekistan. The care packages were 
meant to send a bit of home abroad and included puzzles, games, 
footballs, microwave popcorn, toiletries, gum and magazines, among 
other items to boost the troops' morale.
  In addition to covering the costs of sending out the care packages, 
Mr. Lawrence created 911 numbered prints as a special tribute to U.S. 
troops. He donates these prints to various community group fundraisers. 
The limited edition prints go to groups willing to sell a print in 
support of the Grant Wood Chapter's project.
  U.S. Armed Force bases that receive donations also receive a special 
copy of ``Determination.'' Numbered prints were reserved for Veterans 
Administration hospitals in Iowa City and Des Moines, and a copy was 
presented on the floor of the Iowa House at the Iowa State Capitol.
  Mr. Lawrence is hoping to take the project nationwide and is working 
with the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, and the 
American Red Cross to do just that. He and his wife, Chris, have made 
appearances nationwide to promote the project and received warm 
responses, as they should.
  The ``determination,'' of Ed Lawrence to spread patriotism and 
promote morale nationwide and across the seas has lifted the spirits of 
troops and civilians alike. Thank you, Mr. Lawrence, for setting such a 
positive and patriotic example for fellow Iowans and Americans to 
follow.

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