[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 68 (Thursday, May 8, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5940-S5941]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   HONORING THE 2003 AAA SCHOOL SAFETY PATROL LIFESAVING MEDAL AWARD 
           WINNERS AND THE AAA NATIONAL PATROLLER OF THE YEAR

  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I am proud to announce to the Senate 
today the names of the young men and women who were selected to receive 
special awards from the American Automobile Association. Four safety 
patrollers received the 2003 AAA School Safety Patrol Lifesaving Medal 
Award, the highest honor given to members of the school safety patrol. 
Another safety patroller received the special honor of the AAA National 
Patroller of the Year. They received their awards this past Sunday, May 
4, and I wanted to say how proud we are of them
  There are roughly 500,000 members of the AAA School Safety Patrol in 
this country, helping in over 50,000 schools. Every day, these young 
people ensure that their peers arrive safely at school in the morning, 
and back home in the afternoon.
  Most of the time, they accomplish their jobs uneventfully. But, on 
occasion, these volunteers must make split second decisions, placing 
themselves in harm's way to save the lives of others. The heroic 
actions of this year's recipients exemplify this selflessness.
  The first AAA Lifesaving Medal recipient comes from Deshler, OH. Her 
name is Sadie Peters.
  On the afternoon of May 2, 2002, Sadie, age 12, was on patrol 
assisting fellow students with crossing a busy intersection at Deshler 
Elementary School.
  Kaydi McGill, a three-year old girl, was with her grandmother at the 
intersection when Kaydi wandered away from the older woman into the 
path of an oncoming semi-truck. Seeing that Kaydi was in danger, Sadie 
immediately threw down her patrol flag and sprang toward Kaydi, 
grabbing her from in front of the semi-truck.
  This year's second AAA Lifesaving Medal honoree comes from Lancaster, 
OH.
  Cody Byers, age 13, was on morning duty at Fairfield Christian 
Academy on January 22 overseeing a crosswalk with heavy pedestrian 
traffic. The two traffic lanes in front of the school were filled with 
cars dropping off students for class.
  Cody's safety patrol advisor, Mark Zeitman, saw a first grade student 
race out of the school and head into traffic. he called out to Cody, 
who took off after her and grabbed the youngster by the coat collar 
just before she ran into the street.
  The next AAA Lifesaving Medal winners come from Burke, VA.
  On the morning of November 1, 2002, Michael Butters, age 12, was at 
his post at Holy Spirit School, monitoring a busy traffic circle where 
children are dropped off. Suddenly, Michael heard a teacher yell, ``Get 
her!''
  A little girl had been playing a game of chase with her friends when 
she broke away from the group. Not looking where she was running, she 
headed right for the drop off area. Without hesitating, Michael ran to 
the little girl and grabbed her backpack, saving her from being hit by 
a car.
  In addition to honoring safety patrollers with the Lifesaving Medal 
Award, AAA also recognizes the School Safety Patroller of the Year. 
This award is presented to patrollers who perform duties above and 
beyond their normal responsibilities and demonstrate outstanding 
leadership, dependability, and academic strength.
  This year, the Safety Patroller of the Year goes to Kaaren Hatlen, 
age 11, Safety Patrol Captain at Bear Creek Elementary in Woodinville, 
WA.
  Kaaren has been a member of the Bear Creek Elementary School Safety 
Patrol for the past 2 years. She established herself as a leader early 
on and this year was selected as a captain of her safety patrol. She 
was also selected for several leadership responsibilities, including 
the newly created post of captain of Kindergarten Duty and team leader 
for the sixth grade salmon tank.
  Kaaren is always the first to volunteer to fill in for absent patrol 
members, even in the worst weather. She looks for potentially dangerous 
situations and corrects problem before trouble can occur.
  Kaaren is involved in school volleyball, math olympiad, chorus,

[[Page S5941]]

band and the drama club. She participates in caroling at nursing homes, 
and makes crafts, food and toy drives for Hopelink, a local nonprofit 
organization. She is very active in the reading tutoring program, often 
giving up her lunch recess to help others learn to be successful 
readers. Kaaren is also an active member of her church and local Girl 
Scout Troop and enjoys playing soccer, softball, basketball and 
swimming.
  She and all of the other AAA winners deserve our thanks and applause.
  On behalf of the Senate, I extend congratulations and thanks to these 
young men and women. They are assets to their communities, and their 
families and neighbors should be very proud of their courage and 
dedication.
  I would also like to recognize the American Automobile Association 
for providing the supplies and training necessary to keep the safety 
patrol on duty nationwide.
  Since the 1920s, AAA clubs across the country have sponsored student 
safety patrols to guide and protect younger classmates against traffic 
accidents. Easily recognizable by their fluorescent orange safety belt 
and shoulder strap, safety patrol members represent the very best of 
their schools and communities. Experts credit school safety patrol 
programs with helping to lower the number of traffic accidents and 
fatalities involving young children.
  We owe AAA our gratitude for their tireless efforts to ensure that 
our Nation's children arrive to and from school safe and sound. And we 
owe our thanks to these exceptional young men and women for their 
selfless actions. The discipline and courage they displayed deserves 
the praise and recognition of their schools, their communities and the 
Nation.

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