[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 78 (Thursday, June 13, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1039]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     HONORING THE EXCHANGE CLUB OF ALTON, ILLINOIS AND THEIR 75TH 
                              ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JERRY F. COSTELLO

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 12, 2002

  Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join 
me in recognizing the Seventy-Fifth Anniversary of the Alton Exchange 
Club.
  Exchange is known to millions as America's service club. From their 
earliest days, the Exchange Club has been usefully serving the Alton 
area and improving the quality of life for the Alton community. The 
diverse array of Exchange-sponsored programs and projects has made a 
considerable impact on both the Alton area and America as a whole, thus 
enhancing the lives of countless men, women and children across the 
country. In a very real sense, Exchange exists for the simple purpose 
of serving others.
  The Exchange Club philosophy of service addresses Americanism, 
Community Service and Youth and Child Abuse Prevention as national 
programs. America's young people are its most precious natural 
resource. That is why for many years, Exchange has sponsored an 
impressive selection of activities designed to benefit and encourage 
area youth. In Alton, the Exchange Club promotes the Basketball Player 
of the Year program.
  In addition to developing youth activities and programs, promoting 
pride in country, respect for the flag and appreciation of our freedoms 
are primary purposes of Exchange's Americanism programs. The Alton 
Exchange provides flags for children during parades and other patriotic 
activities for young people in the community. The club promotes 
patriotism by donating 8,000 to 10,000 flags annually for children and 
bystanders in the annual Memorial Day parade.
  The Exchange Club is also responsible for the installation and 
placement of the Freedom Shrines many of us see in our public places. 
The Shrine is an impressive, permanently mounted collection of 28 of 
the most important and historic American documents including the 
Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States and 
the Gettysburg Address. These remarkable documents serve as windows to 
the world of America's proud past. They show our nation's youth the 
strength and courage of their forefathers by allowing them to read, 
with their own eyes, the immortal words of inspired Americans who so 
decisively changed the course of history. Alton's Club installed a 
Freedom Shrine at Gordon Moore Park in Alton.
  The Alton Exchange also follows the tradition of providing community 
service through many crime prevention programs. The club provides 
assistance to the Alton police department by providing bulletproof 
vests and supporting other crime prevention and awareness programs. In 
fact, through their fundraising efforts, the Alton Exchange Club 
purchased the first body armor for the Alton Police Department.
  The following year, again through fundraising efforts, the club 
purchased Defibrillator equipment for the Alton Fire Department. The 
Exchange Club of Alton has also raised funds and donated them to the 
Child Abuse Prevention Project of Alton.
  In furtherance of it's goals to provide community service, the club 
has provided much needed manual labor in support of the Women's Oasis 
Center Building and actively works with and supports the Boys and Girls 
Club of Alton and hosts a special annual event for the children.
  Finally, the club also periodically recognizes an outstanding 
community member or volunteer who otherwise may have been overlooked 
through their ``Book of Golden Deeds'' award. The Alton Exchange Club 
is truly a part of the fabric of the Alton community. Exchange, 
America's Service Club, is a group of men and women working together to 
make our communities a better place to live through programs of 
service.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the service 
of the Exchange Club of Alton and to congratulate all of their past and 
present members on the occasion of their 75th Anniversary.

                          ____________________