[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 15]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 21186-21187]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


 RECOGNIZING THE WORK OF THE STUDENTS AT VETERANS MEMORIAL ELEMENTARY 
                      SCHOOL IN BRICK TOWNSHIP, NJ

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 16, 2002

  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the hard 
work and community service exhibited during the past school year by the 
students of Veterans Memorial Elementary School in Brick Township, New 
Jersey. It is my honor and privilege of representing these students, 
and their parents and teachers in Congress.
  During this past year, the students invested many hours of service in 
projects to help make life better for their school and greater 
community. For example, in the aftermath of the September 11th 
terrorist attacks, the students honored local fire fighters who 
participated in rescue and recovery operations at Ground Zero. They 
also sent thank you notes to New York City police and fire fighters, 
and wrote letters to a local serviceman stationed overseas.
  It is important to note, Mr. Speaker, that the students' community 
service did not just begin, nor will it end, with their outstanding 
efforts related to September 11th.
  To highlight the importance of a clean and safe environment, the 
students commemorated Earth Day by decorating grocery bags with 
environment-friendly messages. These bags were then used by patrons of 
a local supermarket so they could take home the students' messages 
about how we must protect our environment.
  They also implemented a school-wide paper recycling program, and 
worked to beautify the school's grounds.
  To enhance their own understanding of the challenges that older 
Americans face, the students visit with senior citizens in their 
community, exchanging ideas, and striking up new friendships. They make 
special holiday gifts for the seniors and also put on concerts, 
including one full of patriotic songs. It's the students' way of 
thanking America's ``greatest generation''; a generation that risked 
all to secure freedom at home and abroad. As chairman of the House 
Committee on Veterans Affairs, I am especially grateful for the 
outreach our students have initiated with seniors and veterans--the 
namesakes of their school.
  When a peer's house tragically burned to the ground, the students of 
Veterans Memorial Elementary School responded by holding an emergency 
fund-raiser. They also collected warm winter coats for students in need 
and helped their school buy new books and playground equipment.
  While this is only a small sampling of community service activities 
performed by the students of Veterans Elementary, it is clear that 
these children, while learning the subjects and skills they need to 
succeed in academia, are also learning the generosity, compassion, and 
service needed to be outstanding members of their community.
  I am proud to congratulate the students of Veterans Elementary 
School. Their leader and my friend, Principal Joe Vicari also deserves 
our thanks for his many years of hard work and generosity and the 
dedicated teachers and support staff at Veterans Elementary School also 
deserve high praise and recognition. I wish them all the very best of 
success for another year of outstanding community service, and I look 
forward to working with them in their endeavors in the years to come.

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