[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 16]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 23294]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[[Page 23294]]

                          EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS

         TRIBUTE TO THE STUDENTS OF MARYVILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOHN SHIMKUS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 28, 2001

  Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the students 
of Maryville Elementary School in Maryville, Illinois, and their 
important and heartwarming efforts to help those affected by terrorism.
  On October 11, 2001, President Bush made a request of the children of 
America. He challenged each of them to earn and send in one dollar. 
This money, sent by the kindness of the children of the United States, 
will be used to reach out to the unfortunate children in far off 
Afghanistan.
  The students of Maryville Elementary School heard and met that 
challenge. They sponsored a school-wide fundraising effort--spearheaded 
by their Citizenship Committee--during this last October and November. 
Once they were finished, several of their students visited my 
Collinsville office to present me personally with their donation: 
$198.20, which I have passed on to the Fund here in Washington, D.C.
  The students, parents, faculty, and members of the Maryville 
community should be recognized for their fine efforts. The terrorists 
believed they could accomplish their goals with the murder of American 
innocents; but the American citizens have responded with aid to the 
innocent of Afghanistan. Nothing else could better show how utterly al 
Qaeda has failed.
  Mr. Speaker, as President Bush said in his announcement of the Fund 
for Afghan Children, ``One of the truest weapons that we have against 
terrorism is to show the world the true strength of character of the 
American people.'' The children of Maryville Elementary have shown that 
character, and they deserve our thanks. May God bless them, and may God 
bless the United States of America.

                          ____________________