[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 81 (Wednesday, June 4, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1127]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING COURTNEY NORTON

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GEORGE RADANOVICH

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 4, 2003

  Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Courtney Norton, 
who recently completed the seventh grade at Main Street Junior High 
School in Madera, California. Courtney was awarded first place prize 
for the Western Region in the Annual Elks Writing Contest for an entry 
she submitted while in the sixth grade at Lincoln Elementary School in 
Madera. The writing prompt was ``What does the flag of the United 
States of America stand for?'' Courtney responded to the prompt with 
this poem:

     I am the Star Spangled Banner,
     The flag of the United States of America,

     I stand for freedom, peace, justice, liberty, and dreams,

     I have seen every battle fought by our country over the last 
           two hundred years,

     I have been flown in France, Korea, Vietnam and Rome.

     I have been ripped, torn, spit on, burnt and trampled, but I 
           still stand proud.

     I stand for immigrants who gave their lives to make this 
           country a better place to live.

     I stand for every soldier in every war who fought for this 
           country.

     I stand for a nation of love, hope, and opportunities.

     These colors don't run!

     I am worshipped, loved, saluted and respected.

     I stand for the United States of America, the land of the 
           free and the home of the brave.

     FOREVER MAY I WAVE!

  As a result of her first place prize, Norton was invited to the Elks 
annual convention in San Diego to read her poem for the conventioneers. 
Her poem also caught the attention of Operation Mom, an organization of 
mothers of the military, who asked Courtney for her permission to 
include a copy of her poem in each of the thousands of care packages 
that they send to the service men and women posted overseas. In 
addition, the organization invited Norton to present her poem at their 
Operation Welcome Home Rally, scheduled for August 19, 2003, in 
Livermore, California.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to honor Courtney Norton for her 
outstanding accomplishments, patriotic spirit, and support for our men 
and women in uniform. I urge my colleagues to join me in wishing 
Courtney many years of continued success.

                          ____________________