[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 125 (Monday, September 30, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1693]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                ``LESS WE FORGET'' THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

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                          HON. BRIAN D. KERNS

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 26, 2002

  Mr. KERNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring to your attention an 
event which took place in my district over the weekend.
  This past Saturday in Crawfordsville, Indiana, I had the honor of 
participating in a special ceremony to unveil the monument of the Ten 
Commandments. This monument was dedicated with over 100 of my fellow 
Hoosiers present. The monument depicts two tablets containing the Ten 
Commandments with the words ``Less We Forget'' inscribed between them.
  La'Shar Sharp, who is only 15 years old is one of the key persons who 
made this memorial possible. Ms. Sharp had the vision of creating the 
Ten Commandments monument to be dedicated on the September 11 one year 
anniversary. The Hoosiers in my district took this young girl's vision 
and helped make it a reality. The Church of Pentecostals of 
Crawfordsville donated the land and the Allen Monument Company built 
the memorial. A number of other individuals, businesses and 
organizations contributed to the dedication ceremony, including the 
Veterans of Foreign Wars whose members raised the flag and served as 
the ceremonial color guard.
  There is no better symbol for this memorial than the Ten 
Commandments. As you may know Mr. Speaker, the Crawfordsville 
Courthouse was forced to take down its depiction of the Ten 
Commandments. For this reason, I introduced legislation (H. Con. Res. 
315), which would prominently display the Ten Commandments in both the 
House and Senate Chambers. It is important in these times of 
uncertainty that we be steadfast in our beliefs and mindful of our 
roots.
  I would like to leave you with the words of Crawfordsville's Mayor 
Steve Gentry, who at the dedication said ``The stone may, in time, grow 
old and become hard to read, but the words and their meaning will carry 
on for future generations. May God bless the effort that gave us this 
ceremony, and may God bless the United States of America.''

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