[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 20]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 28090]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            CRUSADE 4 CHARACTER: CHARACTER FIRST IN HAMBURG

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JACK QUINN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, November 6, 2003

  Mr. QUINN. Mr. Speaker, this evening in my hometown of Hamburg, NY 
representatives of all facets of the community will gather to conduct a 
``Town Meeting'' to discuss the progress and future of Character First 
in Hamburg.
  Character First in Hamburg is made up of numerous community leaders, 
who over the past two years, have put into place activities in support 
of good character throughout the town with a mission to create a 
culture of character in Hamburg.
  I had hoped to participate as a keynote speaker for this community 
update where, along with defensive back and special teams player Coy 
Wire of the Buffalo Bills and Character First President Suzanne 
McKenney, concerned residents will hear the results of two years of 
Character First and highlights of the culture of character gaining 
momentum in the community.
  Suzanne McKenney has been tireless in her extensive efforts over the 
last two years to bring Character initiatives to the business 
community, civic community, education community, faith community, 
government community and media community. Working with a well 
established Board of Directors and Committee Chairs there is a true 
emphasis upon creating a culture of character in Hamburg.
  Coy Wire is an outstanding example to the Hamburg community. His Coy 
Wire Foundation has been established to promote education and character 
building with initiatives that encourage spiritual awareness. Coy has 
shown by example the positive and uplifting impact of an individuals 
emphasis on character.
  Tonight's Town Meeting theme, Crusade 4 Character, underscores the 
assembled community's belief that the concept of good character has 
gained widespread support throughout the town.
  There literally are signs of character everywhere in the Town of 
Hamburg. My good friend and restaurateur Mike DiPaolo has initiated 
character recognition awards for his employees at Illo DiPaolo's 
restaurant; Our local community newspaper The Sun has shared these 
employees' stories and other examples of character with the community. 
Places of worship throughout Hamburg have promoted character traits on 
bulletin boards, bulletins and newsletters. Character displays have 
been placed throughout school buildings and there have been dedicated 
efforts by students and teachers to recognize good character traits. 
There has been local government support by resolution in the Town of 
Hamburg and the Villages of Blasdell and Hamburg. The Hamburg Town 
Board has initiated character recognition at public meetings and last 
but not least the Civic Community has generated volunteers to assist in 
the coordination of character initiatives throughout the community.
  These are but a few of the many community wide efforts to encourage 
residents of Hamburg to embrace good character.
  Mr. Speaker, today I would like to join with the founders and 
supporters of Character First as they examine their past and look 
toward the future. I would encourage my colleagues to raise the 
awareness of good character in their community. Our nation will only 
grow stronger when individual citizens embrace character within their 
own lives.

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