[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 50 (Thursday, March 27, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E601]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  THE SPIRIT OF AMERICAN VOLUNTEERISM

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                         HON. MICHAEL BILIRAKIS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 27, 2003

  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend America's spirit 
of volunteerism and to highlight an organization that is helping the 
families of active-duty military personnel in my congressional 
district. Millions of Americans perform acts of kindness and compassion 
every day by helping their neighbors or by working through the many 
volunteer organizations that make our country great.
  One such organization, Operation Brave Kids, is a Tampa Bay area 
charitable organization that provides financial assistance to the 
families of active-duty military personnel. The group provides 
resources that can make the difference between obtaining the 
necessities of daily life or going without. John Ghee, the founder of 
Operation Brave Kids, summarized the group's mission by stating that 
``we want the family and the soldier to know that the community is 
behind them.''
  Mr. Speaker, these troubled times require each of us to contribute in 
our own way to the cause of freedom and the care of our countrymen. I 
am proud to say that the spirit of caring and volunteerism is 
flourishing today in the land of liberty.
  May God protect our troops and continue to watch over the United 
States of America.

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