[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 14]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 20827-20828]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



RECOGNIZING THE NATIONAL WALK OUR CHILD TO SCHOOL DAY IN HONOR OF JOHN 
                                 LAZOR

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, October 3, 2000

  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, today I recognize Wendy Lazor, Councilman 
Ed Fitzgerald, the Lakewood City Council, and the Lakewood Board of 
Education for their work in establishing the ``International Walk your 
Child to School Day,'' in honor and memory of John Lazor.

[[Page 20828]]

  The tragic loss of three-year-old John Lazor occurred on April 26, 
2000, while on an innocent walk to the corner store with his day care 
provider. A pickup truck backed from across the street into the 
driveway which young John was standing in, killing him instantly. This 
tragedy emphasizes the importance of taking precautions and the need 
for children's safety education. John's courageous mother, Wendy Lazor, 
has decided to dedicate herself to the advocacy of pedestrian safety, 
especially children. Amazingly, she found strength in the midst of her 
loss to work as an advocate for the public good. She is the driving 
force behind Lakewood, Ohio's recent resolution to establish Wednesday, 
October 4, 2000, as National Walk Our Children to School Day.
  Along with the help of the Lakewood Board of Education, City Council 
and Councilman Ed Fitzgerald, The Lakewood Early Childhood 
Professionals has decided to dedicate a special event, the National 
Walk Our Children to School Day, in John Lazor's honor. All of Lakewood 
can participate in this event, in which the purpose is to provide an 
opportunity for adults to teach children about pedestrian safety and 
choosing safe routes to school, and to help make our communities more 
safe for walking. Because Lakewood is a densely populated city, and one 
in whose children typically walk to and from school on a daily basis, 
the City Board of Education has decided to support and encourage 
participation in National Walk Our Children to School Day. The city's 
main event, honoring the memory of Wendy Lazor's son, John, will be 
held at his old school, Franklin Elementary.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my fellow colleagues to rise with me in 
recognition of the hard work and dedication of Wendy Lazor, Councilman 
Ed Fitzgerald, and the rest of the City of Lakewood's Public and 
Educational Leadership for their support of the National Walk Our 
Children to School Day. And let us honor the memory of the young John 
Lazor, and the courage of his mother, Wendy, for striving to better the 
community even in the face of personal strife and distress. Her 
selfless compassion and triumph in the face of tragedy is inspirational 
to all.

                          ____________________