[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 169 (Monday, December 2, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1758-E1759]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZING ROUND LAKE AREA AMERICAN LEGION POST 1170 AND HONORING 
          EDGAR AND ERIK GARCIA FOR ORGANIZING ITS RENOVATION

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. BRADLEY S. SCHNEIDER

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, December 2, 2013

  Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the inspiring story 
of Erik and Edgar Garcia's plans to renovate the Round Lake Area 
American Legion Post 1170 in my district.
   Post 1170 was beginning to show its age. The walls, the floors, the 
chairs, the lights--serious renovation was needed. The veterans who 
fill its halls deserved better.
   Two young, enterprising brothers from Boy Scout Troop 275 decided 
they would lead it. With the help of Troop Leader Paul Socha, Commander 
Steven Hall and their fellow scouts, Erik and Edgar designed their plan 
and organized the support they needed. But, willing as they all were to 
do the work, they still needed supplies--lots of supplies.
   That's where the local Home Depot came in.
   With donated materials and gift cards, Home Depot single-handedly 
covered 90 percent of the total cost. More importantly when the time 
came to start the work, 30 Home Depot employees pitched in to help with 
the labor.
   Finally, with the supplies fully paid for and the tremendous 
outpouring of support from the community, Erik and Edgar's plan was not 
only off the ground, but soaring. Today, Post 1170 is bright and brand 
new. The turnaround is remarkable, though not surprising given the 
vision, dedication and hard work shown by Erik and Edgar and their 
fellow scouts.
   Mr. Speaker, I am immensely proud of what our community was able to 
do together. They rallied behind Troop 275, and the results are nothing 
short of remarkable.
   Mr. Speaker, this is an inspiring story and another example of why 
our communities in Illinois's Tenth District are so close and so 
strong.

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