[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 16]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 21367-21368]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                A SMALL BUT IMPORTANT STORY FROM VERMONT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. BERNARD SANDERS

                               of vermont

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 27, 2005

  Mr. SANDERS. Mr. Speaker, I wish to tell you a story, and in so doing 
commend a wonderful grassroots project in northern Vermont. It is a 
small story and a simple one, but it says volumes about the generosity 
and support of the people of Vermont, and the care that the citizens of 
our nation as a whole extend to those who are bravely serving in our 
military forces.
  Sharon Waterhouse, of Richford, Vermont decided to sew a Christmas 
stocking for her son, Josh, who is serving in Iraq with other members 
of the Vermont National Guard, and stuff it with small Christmas gifts. 
It immediately occurred to her that she could sew stockings for his 
whole unit, all 32 of his fellow Vermont National Guard members.
  But Ms. Waterhouse didn't stop there. Since she loves to sew, she set 
a course to make 500 stockings, asking her aunt, Andrea Bowden, to help 
get donations to stuff them. Michelle Long of the Guard Family 
Readiness Group pitched in to arrange the shipping. The Richford Legion 
and CF's Diner chipped in by setting out donation jars to help buy 
supplies. And others have volunteered to help sew, including students 
from Enosburg High School, along with their teachers Jessica Leo and 
Kaye Mehaffey.
  Sharon Waterhouse herself is sewing between 300 and 400 stockings, 
and with the help of other generous hands, she hopes to provide 
stockings for the entire Vermont Guard contingent--over 1400 soldiers--
serving in Iraq.
  There are moments when our brave men and women in uniform, facing 
daily dangers in Iraq which we can scarcely imagine, need to know that 
their nation understands the sacrifices they are willing to make on the 
Nation's behalf. What Sharon Waterhouse and the many others working 
along with her have done is give those soldiers a clear sign that we in 
America greatly appreciate their dedication and courage.

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