[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 16]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 23299]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



               TRIBUTE TO THE STUDENTS OF MEMORIAL SCHOOL

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                           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 Memorial School in Taylorville, 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 Memorial School heard and met that challenge. The 
students of Memorial raised over $160.00 for the Fund for Afghan 
Children. Two students--Brandom Reber and Robbie Spurling--headed up a 
fund raising drive that collected donations from every single student 
in the school. In all, they received over $160 dollars for the fund to 
help the children of Afghanistan.
  The students, parents, faculty, and members of the Taylorville 
community should be recognized for this fine effort. The terrorists 
believed they could accomplish their goals with the murder of American 
innocents; but the American citizens have responded with aid to the 
innocents 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 Memorial School have shown that 
character, and they deserve our thanks. May God bless them, and may God 
bless the United States of America.

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