Recognizing Efforts and International Leadership of 16-yr-old Alexis Monroe in Raising Funds for Purchase of Ambulances for Lebanese Red Cross

Floor Speech

Mr. ISSA. Madam Speaker, Alexis Monroe, a 16-year-old, student at Glenelg Country School in Ellicott City, MD, raised over $5,300 to go toward ambulance purchases for the Lebanese Red Cross at her school's annual International Dinner and Fashion Show Fundraiser in 2007 and 2008. I would like to commend Alexis for her efforts as a young leader assisting a humanitarian cause that is supported by the American Red Cross. I would like to thank Alexis for her efforts, and I am submitting Alexis' speeches from 2007 and 2008 for the Congressional Record so that her work can receive recognition as example of U.S. philanthropy to aid those in a far away land who need assistance.

LEBANESE RED CROSS PRESENTATION
(By Alexis Claire Monroe)

One of the great things about Glenelg is the sense of community one feels. When crises occur outside our own community, it's important to help and support the family and friends across the seas--as they are really just an extension of our own community. In planning this event, we learned that there are no less than 8 families of Lebanese descent here at tiny GCS--including 2 faculty--many of whom still have family and friends in Lebanon. We had four generations in our family touched by this crisis.

On July 1, 2006, my great-aunt and uncle visited our family in Lebanon. Great-grandmother Fawaz had turned 97. They were so happy to see how Lebanon had recovered from the civil war and 28 years of occupation. The streets were safe, downtown Beirut had been reconstructed, the hotels and restaurants were filled with tourists.

On July 10th, they left for a short visit to Petra, Jordan to see a 2000 year old temple that is still being excavated by their friends from Brown University. They planned to return to Lebanon on July 14th in time for my great-uncle's birthday celebration which was to be at an elegant restaurant on the harbor near Byblos.

Early July 13th, the Israelis bombed the newly finished Beirut Airport along with more than 60 bridges, all superhighways, and all ports. The combined naval, land and air blockade made travel impossible.

My great-aunt and uncle were stuck in Jordan for 10 days before they could get a flight out leaving most of their belongings behind in Lebanon. During that time, they watched, in horror, the TV broadcast of the destruction of Lebanon's infrastructure and the displacement of 800,000 Lebanese (almost 25% of the population) from their homes, half of those being children; 1,300 Lebanese were killed and 3,200 injured.

The use of force against innocent Lebanese was excessive and prolonged and destroyed over 10 years of reconstruction and re-investment efforts. Many people are still homeless and hungry and need assistance.

One of the primary sources of aid is the Lebanese Red Cross which is a non-partisan humanitarian organization whose volunteers provide medical treatment and relief services. The American Task Force on Lebanon has a commitment from a private foundation to match contributions dollar for dollar--so GCS' gift will go twice as far.

On July 22, 2006, my great-grandmother died. My family was unable to bury her in our ancestral home in Joun because the roads and bridges had been destroyed. We hope that some day, she will be able to rest there in peace.

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2008 LEBANESE RED CROSS PRESENTATION
(By Alexis Clarie Monroe)

The Lebanese Red Cross is a member of the International Red Cross. It provides the most comprehensive ambulance services in the country--often under very difficult circumstances. Wherever there is a need, the Lebanese Red Cross is visible, transporting victims to hospitals and often treating the wounded on the spot.

The Lebanese Red Cross has 6,000 volunteers and 43 Centers where it administers on-site first aid, provides transport, and training. In 2005 and 2006, the Lebanese Red Cross responded to over 166,000 emergency calls--sometimes even losing some of their own in the process. Unfortunately, crises continue to plague Lebanon.

The Lebanese Red Cross needs to replace old and damaged ambulances in order to be able to respond effectively. Last year, Glenelg Country School raised over $2,300 which was contributed to the national campaign. The funds were matched by a private foundation so our contribution doubled to $4,600.

This year, in addition to the foundation match, the American Red Cross has agreed to match donations, so the effect of our charity will be quadrupled: every $10 becomes $40; every $25 becomes $100; every $50 becomes $200.

Although we may have different talents and different abilities and different cultures, in the most basic sense, as humans, we are all equal in our humanity. We are born without knowledge of our faculties, and in this state we are all equal. And this inherent equality never leaves us--we cannot rid ourselves of that intrinsic humanity. Tonight is a time to recognize that equality, to give to others in need regardless of their race or religion, to be not only tolerant, but understanding. Tonight is a time to hope that the warfare, the bloodshed, the violence, in the Middle East will come to an end--tonight is a time to do whatever we can to aid the cause of peace.

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