[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 16]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 23302]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



        TRIBUTE TO THE CHILDREN OF GOOD SHEPHERD LUTHERAN SCHOOL

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOHN SHIMKUS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 28, 2001

  Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to the children of 
Good Shepherd Lutheran school in my home town of Collinsville, IL, and 
their heartwarming actions in the wake of the September tragedy.
  Roughly 2 months ago I received a package of letters from the 
students at Good Shepherd. In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks, 
the children were scared and confused; but the teachers calmed them, 
and asked those who wished, to put their thoughts on paper. The result 
was truly inspiring--over seventy cards, hand drawn by the children 
with pictures of crosses and flags and hearts. Inside them were notes 
of support and caring, as the children put their faith in God, America, 
and Congress to make things right in the world. As one young girl 
wrote, ``We will pray to Jesus that Congress makes the right decisions. 
God bless America.''
  Mr. Speaker, some of these cards I shared with the Members from New 
York; the others I placed on the wall in my office. There they serve as 
a powerful reminder to me, not only of the faith that some people place 
in us as Representatives, but also of exactly for whom we are fighting 
this war. It is my sincere hope that when these children grow up and 
look back on this time, they will feel their faith in us was justified. 
It is my hope that we will have left them a better world.
  Mr. Speaker, the students and the faculty of Good Shepherd School 
deserve our thanks--not only for their cards, which have touched my 
heart and the hearts of other Congressmen and women, but also for their 
great spirit as Americans. Their faith in God and Country is admirable; 
their faith in us as a legislative body is humbling. May God bless 
them, and may God bless our country.

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