[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 18912]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



   TRIBUTE TO THOSE WHO ASSISTED IN THE RELIEF EFFORT AT THE PENTAGON

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                           HON. FRANK R. WOLF

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 4, 2001

  Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, in the wake of the tragic terrorist attacks on 
the United States, we have witnessed an outpouring of generosity 
throughout the nation--be it monetary donations to the local volunteer 
fire department, blood donations to the Red Cross or time donations to 
any number of volunteer organizations assisting in the relief 
operations at both the Pentagon and the World Trade towers.
  In the midst of the human evil and premeditated acts of death and 
destruction which marked Tuesday, September 11, it was easy to become 
disheartened. But out of the rubble, time and again, fellow Americans 
have risen to the occasion, offering a helping hand, a warm meal or a 
simple smile, thereby restoring our faith in humanity. These acts of 
service often go unnoticed and unrecognized, but not unappreciated.
  The Pentagon, just a few miles from the nation's capital, was a 
hotbed of volunteer activity. Americans from all over the country put 
busy lives on hold, taking leave from their jobs and responsibilities 
at home, some using cherished annual vacation leave, to reach out to 
fellow citizens. Touring the Pentagon's south parking lot last week, 
you might find the North Carolina Baptist Men's Association faithfully 
serving day in and day out, or a church group from Louisiana which had 
driven through the night only to cook large kettle pots of jambalaya. 
And of course there were two organizations, which have become a 
mainstay at disaster sights throughout the country, the American Red 
Cross and the Salvation Army. All of these groups, many of them faith 
based, were instrumental both in the tangible parts of the relief 
operation, which included blood drives and food preparation, and in the 
intangible parts, like lifting the spirits of weary rescue workers.
  Another organization which was a pivotal part of the relief effort at 
the Pentagon was Christ in Action, based out of Manassas, Virginia, 
which is part of Virginia's 10th Congressional district. It is a 
nonprofit organization which was founded in January 1982 by Dr. Denny 
and Sandy Nissley.
  Christ in Action prepared and served a remarkable 3,000 to 5,000 
meals each day. In the twilight hours of the evening and the hours 
before sunrise, they and their team of volunteers diligently prepared 
up to 500 breakfasts to be ready by 5 a.m., for distribution to various 
areas of the Pentagon where workers could not leave their posts. 
Between 5-9 a.m., they served another 1,000 to 1,500 breakfasts. And 
that was just one meal cycle.
  Christ in Action's tent was designated the ``official'' meal place 
for the entire relief effort by an office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
  The relief workers that were permitted to leave their sites often 
retreated to the Christ in Action tent as a treasured respite from the 
arduous task before them. Located just 200 feet from the crash site, 
the tent was near the intersection of two newly created ``streets'' in 
this impromptu tent city, American Way and Freedom Lane. A large 
American flag hung behind the stage in the tent, from which various 
military bands performed during the lunch hour each day, and cards and 
letters from students and children around the country were gathered in 
boxes at the foot of the stage, to be read by workers in need of some 
encouragement during the course of the day.
  In this time of need, Christ in Action found strength in its 
unyielding faith, and has displayed an outpouring of love and warmth to 
countless relief workers from across the country. Christ in Action 
answered a call to service before the call was even sounded and in 
doing so gave us a glimpse of the spirit which will carry our nation 
through this trying time.

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