[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 10]
[House]
[Page 14236]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   CONGRATULATING FIFTH GRADE STUDENTS OF HILLANDER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

  (Mr. CONAWAY asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. CONAWAY. Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate the fifth 
grade students of Hillander Elementary School in Midland, Texas for 
raising $4,200 on Saturday, April 30, 2005, for the honorable men and 
women of the Midland-based Texas National Guard Company C, 2nd 
Battalion, 142nd Infantry, who have been deployed in the Middle East 
for some 5 months now.
  Mary Clare Holmes, a student at Hillander, devised plans for a 
fundraiser after hearing stories of children who raised money for the 
victims of last year's tsunamis. With these fellow youngsters in mind, 
she enlisted her classmates to raise money through a bake sale for 
their hometown troops.
  They devoted their time to helping our men and women fighting for 
freedom abroad by making items such as salsa, bundt cake, and cookies 
for the sale. They set a positive example not only for our Nation's 
youth but showed the American spirit of giving that should be an 
example to everyone. The noble efforts of these students were well 
received in the community and the items for sale were quickly 
purchased.
  With the resounding success of the bake sale, the students wanted to 
make sure the proceeds were used in a way that would most benefit the 
soldiers and their families. With the advice of local army officials, 
the students decided that the money they raised would be best used to 
purchase phone cards. The efforts of the fifth graders at Hillander 
will allow the brave men and women defending freedom abroad to spend 
more time in touch with their loved ones. The students at Hillander set 
a wonderful example of how a small unselfish effort can greatly benefit 
our military personnel.
  I am proud to have compassionate and caring youngsters in my 
district, and I know our soldiers abroad will greatly appreciate their 
efforts.

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