[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 17]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 23706]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 TRIBUTE TO BRICE CARRUTH AND THE CORTEZ, COLORADO WAL-MART STORE STAFF

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                           HON. SCOTT McINNIS

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 30, 2003

  Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise before this body of Congress and 
this nation to recognize a group of outstanding citizens from my 
district. The Associates of the Cortez, Colorado Wal-Mart Store and 
their Store Manager, Brice Carruth, acted with great generosity in the 
face of a devastating fire and recently helped save priceless artifacts 
from destruction. For their kind and selfless act, I am honored to pay 
tribute to Brice and the Cortez Wal-Mart Associates here today.
  In June of 2002, facing severe drought conditions and the 
accompanying risk of devastating fires, the National Park Service 
decided that priceless and irreplaceable treasures from Mesa Verde 
National Park needed to be moved from their curatorial center to a 
safer location. It was agreed that the collection should be moved to 
the old Cortez Wal-Mart store. No sooner had the collection been safely 
relocated than the Long Mesa fire erupted and eventually descended on 
the Mesa Verde curatorial facility. The efforts of the Cortez Wal-Mart 
Associates to renovate and cleanup the old facility helped protect over 
three million irreplaceable artifacts, including numerous documents, 
pictures, and maps.
  Mr. Speaker, Brice Carruth and the Cortez Wal-Mart Associates 
selflessly gave of their time to safeguard a national treasure. Their 
work to save the artifacts of Mesa Verde National Park ensures that 
these unique treasures can continue to be enjoyed by future 
generations. For their noble service, I am honored to recognize the 
Associates of the Cortez Wal-Mart and Store Manager Brice Carruth here 
today.

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