[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 147 (Thursday, November 14, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2018-E2019]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      TRIBUTE TO COMANCHE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL OF SHAWNEE MISSION, KS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. DENNIS MOORE

                               of kansas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 13, 2002

  Mr. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to recognize 
and commend the students of Marilyn Tieszen, a kindergarten teacher at 
Comanche Elementary School of Shawnee Mission, KS, which is located in 
the Third Congressional District of Kansas.
  Following the tragic terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Ms. 
Tieszen had her students create an American flag, using a white sheet, 
and dipping their hands in red and blue

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paint to make the stripes and the blue background for the stars. The 
flag was presented to U.S. Army Captain John Townsend, who has two 
children who are students at the school. Captain Townsend is the 
Executive Officer for the School of Advanced Military Studies at Fort 
Leavenworth's United States Army Command and General Staff College.
  After receiving the flag, Captain Townsend hung it in Eisenhower Hall 
at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, for a few weeks, where, in his words, ``it 
got rave reviews and many people commented that it was unfortunate that 
all service members would not be able to appreciate it.'' As a result 
of the very positive reception it received at the Fort, the flag was 
then mailed to an Army infantry unit conducting a peacekeeping mission 
in Kosovo. It arrived a few days before Christmas and hung at several 
of their sites through the new year. From there, it was taken to an 
Airborne unit that ``jumped'' it into Tunisia, North Africa. Next it 
was displayed on the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis, which was 
supporting Operation Enduring Freedom in the Persian Gulf.
  Following the display on the USS Stennis, the Comanche Elementary 
School flag was flown to an Army Explosive Ordnance unit in 
Afghanistan, which had just lost two soldiers, one being from Kansas. 
After that, the flag went to the Pentagon, where it hung for three 
weeks in the reconstructed part of the building that had been attacked 
on September 11th. As Captain Townsend told me, ``few people could pass 
it without stopping and appreciating the spirit and patriotism it 
displayed.'' The flag then was displayed at the U.S. Supreme Court and 
the U.S. Capitol, before briefly being returned home to Comanche 
Elementary School, where it is now being displayed.
  Mr. Speaker, a book that logged its travels accompanied the flag 
everywhere it went. At each stop the unit took pictures of its visit 
and then sent them on with the flag so its travels are well documented. 
In most cases the unit sent a letter or e-mail praising the students' 
patriotism. At Comanche Elementary School the students and faculty have 
created a large display in the foyer just inside the front door so that 
everyone who comes into the building can see it: a large map with the 
visited areas highlighted, including pictures from those locations.
  As Captain Townsend told me, ``I receive e-mails almost daily from 
soldiers and civilians around the world that have seen this flag and 
were thankful that they got to see it. In most cases it brought tears 
to their eyes. In some cases it brought a ray of hope to people that 
were down from losing friends/comrades and for others it was a sign of 
support from a community half way around the world.''
  I am very proud of the patriotism and creativity of Marilyn Tieszen's 
kindergarten class at Comanche Elementary School, who worked together 
to create a wonderful symbol of America during our ongoing time of 
great challenge. Mr. Speaker, I hope that you and all Members of this 
House will Join with me in commending their spirit and thanking them 
for the inspirational symbol they created for display around the world.

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