[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 13]
[House]
[Page 18298]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                          OUR HOPE NOT BROKEN

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 3, 2001, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Israel) is recognized 
during morning hour debates for 5 minutes.
  Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Speaker, recently I attended a candlelight vigil at 
the Deer Park High School on Long Island on behalf of those missing and 
lost on the attack on the World Trade Center.
  Following that ceremony, I have had the privilege of meeting with the 
Szewczuk family. Jessica Szewczuk gave me a poem she wrote about the 
Trade Center attack. Her words are particularly poignant because her 
father is a New York firefighter, one of the countless heroes who has 
saved lives in the true spirit of America.
  On behalf of all of those heroes, I would like to read Jessica's poem 
to my colleagues. She writes:

     When the Twin Towers were hit
     Everyone was in shock
     People screaming and running
     Not believing what was happening to us
     We the nation of strength and teams
     The nation that gives hope and dreams
     The nation that was built with confidence and care.
     The nation that will always be there
     When this tragedy occurred everyone went mad
     The city was in chaos, really bad
     People said that everyone would be torn
     They were right for we continue to mourn
     This tragedy will be hard to mend
     But never have we been so close
     Everyone is everyone's friend
     This terror that happened just brought us tighter
     Boosted up our confidence and made our hearts brighter
     We are all working as a team, we're all helping out
     The city is slowly being fixed and there is less doubt
     So there goes to show that whatever may be
     Our people will always be confident and free
     Nothing can ruin our foundation
     No one can take apart this nation
     No one can kill America's heart
     Nothing can rip our bond apart
     Our flesh and blood has built this great nation
     Our hearts and mind have created America's foundation
     So whatever happens and whatever goes on
     America will always continue to be strong
     Nothing can make us weak
     Only help build our strength to the highest peak
     No one can ever put us to defeat
     For America's heart will always continue to beat.

  I am privileged to represent the Szewczuk family in the United States 
Congress.

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