[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 135 (Friday, December 8, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S11734]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                RECOGNIZING THE HAWTHORNE MIDDLE SCHOOL

 Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, Idahoans have a strong reputation 
for being staunchly patriotic and supporting our military men and 
women. I am proud to say that this patriotism has its roots even in our 
children, as evidenced by the recent penny drive held at Hawthorne 
Middle School in Pocatello, ID.
  More than 500 seventh and eighth graders, with the help of teachers 
and administrators, raised $1,000 over the course of 3 weeks to 
purchase special gifts for our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. That 
$1,000, mostly in change, required daily counting by the students and, 
from what I understand, taking it to the bank required multiple bags 
and boxes! In fact, 100,000 pennies weigh close to 700 lbs, so I am 
certain that it was a heavy deposit despite the fact that it wasn't all 
collected in pennies. This remarkable achievement and dedication to 
supporting our military overseas deserves recognition and 
congratulations. Hawthorne Middle school's success reflects a sense of 
civic duty and national pride, refreshing in middle school students in 
today's world. This is indicative of the influence of strong families 
and strong educators at this Idaho school. I commend them on their 
generosity and commitment to our troops, and present Hawthorne Middle 
School students, parents, and teachers as models of patriotism, civic 
duty, and selfless giving.

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