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Dateline:
September 16,
2001
5:02 PM
CMS
STUDENTS RAISE OVER $15,000 FOR RED CROSS
Colleyville Middle
School held a Pep Rally on Friday, September 14 at 2:30 to present a
check to Dr. Kevin Singer, Superintendent of GCISD. Principal
Cantrell stated, "They (the students) approached me and
said do you think we can set a goal of $5,000 and I thought, Wow, lofty
goal. Then when they showed up with their posters the next day,
they had their goal set for $8,000. But today, after the last
lunch, I would like to announce that we have a check for the American
Red Cross in the amount of $15,123." At that point the crowd
broke out in a roar of applause and cheers that lasted for about a
minute.
"I have never ever
received anything like this in a collection that anyone has made and on
behalf of the Board of Education, I gratefully accept this and we will
be really happy to send this on to the relief fund." stated Dr.
Singer.
| Principal
Cantrell then introduced Jeff Russell as one of the
speakers. Jeff commented, "This is pretty special here
today. You guys set out for a goal and it is really neat how
when you set your minds to something that you can achieve that and
even surpass your goal that you started with. I think a lot
of people in New York and Washington are going to really
appreciate this. This is not just a little drop in the
bucket, this is going to mean something to thousands of
people. You hear everybody talking about Pearl Harbor and
that this is the biggest thing since Pearl Harbor. So pay
attention and realize what goes on out in this world. You
have great parents, it shows in what you have you done
today. We have a police and fire department here in
Colleyville that is top notch. So respect your town that you
live in." |
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Rusty Grier then
said a few words to the students. "Wow, that is all I
can say is 'Wow'. I think the great thing about this is that
you guys never asked where this money was going or what it was
going to be used for, you just gave it out of your goodwill.
It might go to help the firefighters, it might go to help the
police officers or it might go to help rebuild the World Trade
Center. I think above and beyond that, you guys stood as one
and collected this money and I think standing as one is more
powerful than what any terrorists can do to this country and I
really respect the fact that you guys have come together and
united and hopefully we can do that as a country to. Thank
you for having me." |
| Tim
Crabtree was the next guest to have a few words. "On
behalf of the Texas Rangers and being a Colleyville resident and
parent, I am very proud to be here in front of you all
today. I think it is astounding the job that you all did and
I think that it is a real tribute to American society to see
today's youth so caring and giving to others in need.
September 11, 2001 will be a day that will live forever in your
minds like Pearl Harbor lives in the minds of the generations
before you. I am very proud to be here today to say thank
you for everything you are doing and thank you for being
Colleyville's youth. Please pay special tribute to the men
and women of our armed services and our men and women here in
Colleyville who fight for your safety. As I walk away from
this microphone, I would love to hear you pay tribute to
Colleyville firefighters and police department because their brethren
are the ones in New York saving lives." |
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Terry
Gilpin stated, "As I was sitting back and listening to these
special guys that we have up here. I was thinking how cool
it is that you guys a group as bunch of young Americans to get
together and do something like that. I looked around and I
thought you guys came together as a group, not as a color but a
group of young Americans and I just hope that us older Americans
can learn from that and can try to improve the world that all you
guys are walking into. I am happy to be hear and I am proud
that my son goes to this school and I just think it is really neat
what you guys did. Thank you."
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| Colleyville
Mayor, Donna Arp, then came up for a few words. "First
of all I would like to thank your principal, Leslie Cantrell and
also the school board members and Kevin Singer but mostly I want
to thank the parents and students of Colleyville. I
certainly want to take a minute though to once again, and I know
you know how important the men and women are that protect you and
protect your families and Colleyville but would the firefighters
and police department standup one more time. These are the
people that protect Colleyville. I will tell you, when you
see the police department and your fire department driving around
and watching over your homes, know that what you have done today
will make all the difference to these men and women in blue and
these men and women in white because that is what they are here
for, to protect you as the firefighters and the police did in New
York City and Washington, DC and in Pennsylvania. . . I just have
to ask one question and I want to hear from the parents.
When people in the United States and the World says what kind of
youth are we raising today, I want you to know, this is it.
So lets give each other a hand." |
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Mike
Jensen was the next to the last speaker. He had a few words
for the crowd. "I was born and raised in this
area. I was born on a farm back in 1945. Back then, I
will never forget, my dad taught me or tried to teach me the
values of life. I think that he was somewhat successful, I
had to learn it through hard knocks but I will tell you that you
guys are well on your way to learning the values of life.
You guys have established a standard for the youth of this
nation. I think that when we talk about the future of
America, the future of America is the youth of this nation.
My hat is off to you guys and to the parents that are raising you
and I hope that you will never loose sight and focus of what has
taken place on this week. It has been a tragedy but
sometimes tragedy brings us back to the roots that this nation was
built on. The roots of this nation was built on godly
principals and would hope that you guys continue to grow and that
your parents would continue to raise you so that we will keep
focused on godly principals. This is what this nation was
built on and that's what the future of this nation will base its
success on. Again, congratulations on such a great record
setting amount of money you guys raised and God Bless
You." |
| Principal
Cantrell then introduced a local business owner that had called
her earlier in the day and told her that he wanted to add $1,000
from his company to the fund that CMS was raising. That
business owner was Kip Whitman. "Thank you, I didn't
expect...I didn't...I don't do this. But what first comes to
mind is an old saying, There are some people that make things
happen, there are some people who watch what happens and there are
people who wonder what happened. Well, you make things
happen, you made us focus and contribute to your endeavor.
You have proven yourself as qualified to be in the forefront of
tomorrows leaders of the greatest nation of this planet.
Thank you!" |
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Principal Cantrell made
one final quote before the crowd sang "God Bless America" and
balloons were released into the sky and the drum corp played.
That quote was from The
Diary of Anne Frank, "In spite of everything, I still believe
that people are really good at heart."
Click
here for more photos from the event.
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