[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 17]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 23076]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         CHRISTA LEWIS MEMORIAL

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. ALLYSON Y. SCHWARTZ

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 18, 2005

  Ms. SCHWARTZ of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, on May 3, 1996, 16-year-
old Christa Lewis's life was cut tragically short after she was stabbed 
while attending a local carnival with her friends in the Philadelphia 
neighborhood of Tacony. The death of Christa Lewis stunned her family, 
friends and community.
  At the time of her death, Christa Lewis was a sophomore honors 
student at St. Hubert's Catholic High School who excelled at soccer and 
lacrosse. Friends described Christa as fun-loving, popular and 
vivacious. Christa is survived by her parents, Joan and Greg Lewis, as 
well as two younger brothers, Bud and Evan and her younger sister, 
Cory.
  Her sudden death shocked the close-knit community and shed light on 
the growing problem of youth violence. We all know how important it is 
that we address the overwhelming pressures that teenagers face during 
their developmental years. It is imperative that we do all we can to 
address violence done to and by teens that can lead to the tragic and 
untimely death of a young person.
  In the aftermath of her murder Christa's entire community rallied 
around the Lewis family as well as worked to ensure the safety of area 
residents. Since her death nearly 10 years ago, many people have worked 
hard to keep Christa's memory alive. Members of the community organized 
sports tournaments and local dinners to benefit the Christa Lewis 
Memorial Fund, a non-profit organization that supports local children 
and schools. On October 3, 1997, the Historical Society of Tacony also 
dedicated the Christa Lewis Memorial Arboretum in Disson Park.
  On October 15, I joined Christa's family at the unveiling of the 
seventh series of memorial stones at the Christa Lewis Memorial 
Arboretum. Christa's father said at the initial dedication of the 
arboretum that it was to be used by the community--including the Tacony 
and Mayfair sections of Northeast Philadelphia--to honor and reflect on 
the memory of their loved ones. It is now filled with stones and trees 
memorializing friends, family and loved ones from throughout the 
community.
  Although Christa sadly lost her life at such a young age, the park 
serves as a place of love and remembrance. This past weekend, I was 
honored to join Christa's family in celebrating her life, spirit and 
the memory of so many others at the arboretum.

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