[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 17]
[Senate]
[Page 23725]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[[Page 23725]]

                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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        WHITE KNOLL STUDENTS BUY NEW YORK CITY A NEW FIRE TRUCK

 Mr. HOLLINGS. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize White 
Knoll Middle School in Lexington, South Carolina for their wonderful 
donation of a fire truck for the New York City Fire Department.
  You might ask why, Mr. President, would Lexington, South Carolina be 
interested in purchasing a fire truck for New York City. In 1867, after 
fire from the Civil War devastated our state capital of Columbia 
located just across the county line from Lexington, a group of New York 
City firefighters raised money to buy Columbia a new fire truck, known 
then as a hose reel wagon. Because the hose reel wagon was so much more 
effective in putting out fires than the bucket brigade, Columbia 
officials pledged to return the favor some day.
  With the devastation in New York City and the loss of dozens of 
rescue vehicles in the September 11th attacks, the students of White 
Knoll learned of the all but forgotten pledge and decided to take 
matters into their own hands. They started raising money by selling 
patriotic buttons, T-shirts, and baked goods. They also solicited help 
from area businesses. The students' goal of $354,000 was the minimum 
needed to purchase a new fire truck without any additional equipment.
  Four students were selected to take the two day trip to New York City 
to award Mayor Rudolph Giuliani with an oversized check with the amount 
of $354,411. Thomas Dunn, Maurice Hallman, Staci Smith, and Leigh Tyson 
also rode in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade with Mayor Giuliani and 
Yankees manager Joe Torre.
  South Carolina and New York have been reunited by generosity in the 
midst of tragedy. I commend all the students at White Knoll Middle 
School for their inspiring community service and hard work.

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