[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 105 (Monday, July 29, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1423]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               SCOTT DETROW: REACHING TO AMERICA'S FUTURE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. THOMAS M. BARRETT

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 26, 2002

  Mr. BARRETT. Mr. Speaker, I wish to recognize Scott M. Detrow from my 
district, a talented young man who recently won the 2002 Voice of 
Democracy Broadcast Scriptwriting Contest. Sponsored by the Veterans of 
Foreign Wars (VFW), this competition provides an opportunity for high 
school students to voice their opinion on their responsibility to our 
country. More than 85,000 secondary school students participated this 
year, with only 58 winning a national scholarship.
  Mr. Detrow's essay on the American response to the September 11 
terrorist attacks captured the contest's theme of ``Reaching to 
America's Future.'' He channeled his feelings and emotions to create an 
inspirational piece upon which everyone can reflect. I ask my 
colleagues to join me in recognizing Scott M. Detrow for his special 
achievement, and I submit to the Congressional Record the complete text 
of Mr. Detrow's piece:
  A hush fell over the students as they entered the plaza. Their joking 
and fidgeting suddenly stopped as their eyes came upon the massive 
sculpture before them. It was a sunny and cool autumn day in lower 
Manhattan, perfect for a field trip to the World Trade Center Monument. 
The high-schoolers found it hard to believe that some fifty years 
before, two of the tallest buildings in the world had stood there, and 
that they had been destroyed in a matter of minutes.
  ``Imagine the terror New Yorkers and Americans must have felt that 
day,'' the tour guide began. ``No one knew what to expect, who had done 
it, or why. For the first time since the War of 1812, mainland America 
had been attacked; for the first time since Pearl Harbor, flung 
headlong by surprise into war.''
  ``How did the country react?'' piped up one of the more outgoing 
students. ``Excellent question,'' replied the tour guide. ``From the 
ashes of the Trade Center and the Pentagon rose the Phoenix of 
Patriotism, of courage, of will. Americans rushed to blood centers, 
waiting for hours to give the gift of life. Hundreds of millions of 
dollars were raised to help the victims. Millions more prayers were 
offered, as Americans flocked to their mosques, synagogues and 
churches. Rescue teams were overwhelmed by the crush of volunteers, and 
the support of the entire nation was heaved upon their president and 
leaders, wholeheartedly trusting in the American system of democracy.''
  ``Soon you could not go a block without seeing Old Glory. From the 
steps of the Capitol--still standing thanks to courageous passengers 
who fought off suicide hijackers--to the playing fields of professional 
sports, to schools all across the country came the sweet sound of `God 
Bless America.' ''
  By now many students had their hands up. ``But I read that the 
economy went into a recession, and that soon afterward biological 
terrorism began arriving by mail. How could this spirit be maintained 
in such a dark time?''
  ``That's a paradox that helps make America such a great country,'' 
answered the guide. ``It seems that throughout our history, our darkest 
hours were also our finest. In 2001 we refused to let the terrorists 
win. People continued with their regular lives, but a bit more mindful 
of what was really important. Friendships were bonded, old rifts 
erased, and the country truly became one nation under God. The country 
felt up to any challenge, and took it one day at a time. Every time a 
new problem arose, Americans simply dealt with it and continued to 
march forward. Everyone rose to the occasion, from the President to the 
firefighters, to the average Joe.''
  The students gazed at the monument, reflecting on the greatness of 
the generation past. They had never seen their grandparents and great 
grandparents in this light, and were stunned by the character they 
showed and the actions they took in the face of adversity. Faced with 
pure evil, they had stood up to it and won. These were the true heroes, 
these men and women who stood on the very spot where they were now, 
working non-stop for months on end sorting through the rubble, hoping 
against all odds to find survivors.
  As a distant clock struck twelve, the sun shone directly upon the 
monument. The students saw the memorial in its full splendor, a 
firefighter, a police officer, old man, and young girl, all gazing and 
pointing off into the distance. The reflecting pool cast a glimmer of 
hope in the statues' faces: the promise of a new tomorrow.

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