[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 21]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 30533-30534]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          TRIBUTE TO WADE KING

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JACK METCALF

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 16, 1999

  Mr. METCALF. Mr. Speaker, Wade King was a 10-year-old boy from my 
district who was killed on June 10th when a gasoline pipeline ruptured 
and exploded in Bellingham, Washington. I submit this letter written by 
someone who knew him very well, into the Record as a memorial to him.

                           A Letter From Wade

       Dear Mom & Dad, Sis, Bro, Lynn, Jessica, Grandma Dorothy 
     and all:
       I wanted you to know I arrived safely. Jesus met me and led 
     the way. This is an awesome place. I asked him what happened 
     and he told me a gas pipeline ruptured and exploded in the 
     park, filling the creek where Steve and I were playing. I 
     told him I thought that was a dumb place for a pipeline, and 
     he said something like we humans still have a problem with 
     foresight, whatever that means.
       Anyway this place is just out of sight, and guess what, I 
     don't have any burns and no pain, and all they tell you about 
     Jesus is true. He loves us all and said he'd take care of 
     you, Mom and Dad, and everyone else back in Bellingham.
       I can't make up my mind what I like best about this place, 
     because time doesn't matter; we can sleep when we want, eat 
     when we want and the food is fantastic; you know how I like 
     food, and sports are always being played. This morning Steve 
     and I counted at least 12 baseball diamonds with games going 
     on at all of them; some of the greats were playing--that 
     DiMaggio guy and Mickey Mantle. I guess they were pretty 
     good, weren't they Dad? And by the way I got to watch the 
     Mariners on Saturday--way to go guys. I knew we could beat 
     those Ferndale guys. It was a special hook-up because they 
     knew how important this game was to me.
       Mom, I hope you're not too sad, or mad at me: I know I've 
     caused a lot of people to be sad, but tell everyone I'm fine, 
     especially all the kids and teachers at Roosevelt. My 
     education will continue; I have a lot of stripes to earn 
     before I become an angel--can you imagine that? Me, an angel? 
     Yeah, I know I can hear you all laughing, ``Wade with 
     wings?'' Just imagine that--but you can bet I'm going to be 
     the best angel possible.
       Tell my 4th grade Sunday school class at St. Paul's that 
     they should study the Bible: it has all that really matters 
     in life; that will be my biggest task along with all the 
     regular subjects.
       I want you to know, too, how special a send-off you and 
     Father John gave me at Harborview--to have you there gave me 
     the strength to face the darkness until Jesus came for me.
       I miss you all very much, and Jesus told me how much you 
     all miss me, and then he pointed out that we can always 
     replay the tapes of our lives to remember those special 
     moments. Then he reminded me of the time he said, ``I am with 
     you always.'' Well, he said the same is true of us--I will be 
     with you in spirit forever, just as Jesus is with you. I gave 
     Jesus a high five when he reminded me of that--he is a cool 
     guy.
       You know we touched each other in life: I touched you and 
     you touched me. Each of you went into making me who I am, and 
     I'd like to think I helped you be who you are. If that is so, 
     then I continue to live in you and you live in me.
       Finally, thank you for celebrating my life today; it is 
     special to know how much you are loved; I know I'm one very 
     much loved boy and I love you all, too. Jesus says that is 
     the key to life--loving each other. Remember his commandment, 
     ``Love one another as I have loved you.''
           I love you all,
                                                              Wade
                                                             Amen.


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