Congressional Record—Senate S9630
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S9630 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE August 2, 1996 camping and scenic views, the young mine is encountered. Mine clearance HIGH RUSSIAN HONOR TO IOWAN girl scouts found themselves inspired will continue through 1997 in the thou- JOHN CHRYSTAL by this natural habitat while learning sands of hectares of the surrounding ∑ Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, John lessons on the environment and work farm and forest land. This will allow Chrystal, an outstanding Iowan, is one ethics that would accompany them on citizens to productively and effectively of only two Americans to be awarded their future endeavors. utilize the land again, and will help re- the Order of Friendship, the highest For the alumnae from 12 States as forest the area. honor that the Government of Russia far away as California, Camp Natarswi As a member of the PeaceTrees Viet- can bestow on a noncitizen. This will forever be a place where friend- nam International Advisory Board, I award, which was given at the behest ships flourished and lessons were am pleased to have the opportunity to of Russian President Boris Yeltsin, was learned about life and the importance assist efforts to make this landmine- presented at a ceremony in Des Moines, of our natural resources. Most of all, ridden area safe again, and to raise IA, by the Russian Ambassador to the these women were instilled with the awareness of the global problem of United States, Yuli M. Vorontsov. It Girl Scout tradition, something they landmines. I applaud the work of all has been my privilege to have John as have passed down to their children and those who have helped organize and im- a close personal friend for many years, grandchildren. I am pleased to recog- plement PeaceTrees Vietnam. Efforts and I am extremely proud of his nize the 60th anniversary of this very such as theirs truly make a difference achievement in receiving this high and special place for so many of my fellow in the lives of countless individuals well-deserved honor. Mainers.∑ around the world.∑ Under Russian law, the Order of f Friendship, which was established in PEACETREES VIETNAM f 1994 by President Yeltsin, ‘‘is awarded ∑ Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I rise to persons for significant contribution today to describe a project being un- CELEBRATE HOSIERY WEEK— to strengthening friendship and co- dertaken by a remarkable organization AUGUST 5–11, 1996 operation between nations and nation- alities, for helping the development of in my home State of Washington. ∑ Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, next the Russian economy, for especially PeaceTrees Vietnam, the 20th inter- week, August 5–11, marks the 23d an- fruitful activities in scientific develop- national PeaceTrees Program spon- nual observance of Celebrate Hosiery ment, for bringing together and mutu- sored by the Earthstewards Network, Week. It always gives me great pride to ally enriching the cultures of nations represents the dedicated work of indi- join in recognizing an industry which and nationalities, and for strength- viduals working to promote peace on a has contributed so much to the free en- ening peace and friendship between na- local and global scale. terprise system of our country and so tions.’’ John was honored for all of For over a decade, Earthstewards has much to the economy of North Caro- these reasons and in recognition of his worked around the world to foster dia- lina. 70th birthday, which was December 11 log between peoples of various coun- Mr. President, National Hosiery tries, and to contribute to commu- of last year. Week is of special importance to me John has had a long and distin- nities around the world. Earthstewards because North Carolina is the leading has organized PeaceTrees Programs in guished career as a farmer and banker, hosiery State in the Nation. North and is recognized as a leading expert on many communities, including Cape- Carolina is proud of the leadership of town, South Africa; Auroville, South agricultural, trade and economic mat- the hosiery industry and the fine qual- ters involving the former Soviet Union. India; Bluefields, Nicaragua; and Ta- ity of life that it has provided for so coma, WA. Now, this organization is He has long worked to improve trade many people. relations between our nation and the embarking on a project in Vietnam. In fact, the hosiery industry plays a Every week in Vietnam, a child is countries of the former Soviet Union substantial role in the economy of killed or maimed by the explosion of and to help those countries modernize more than half of the States of the an antipersonnel landmine. At this and restructure their agriculture and Union. There are 343 companies in the time, there are over 58,000 leftover food systems. As a farmer himself, hosiery business, operating 456 plants landmines and unexploded ordnance in John has real credibility when he talks employing 62,300 people in 28 States. the Quang Tri Province of Vietnam, with farmers in Russia, Ukraine or one The statistics are staggering: these the DMZ during the Vietnam war. of the other countries of the NIS. 62,300 people produce and distribute 22 PeaceTrees Vietnam seeks to eliminate John has traveled to Russia, million dozens pairs of hosiery a year. the threat of these devices by removing Ukraine, Georgia, and other nations of They contributed a record $7.2 billion landmines, planting trees, raising com- the former Soviet Union some 50 to 60 to the U.S. economy in 1995. munity awareness, and reducing the times since 1959, representing our State dangers of landmines in Vietnam and The hosiery industry has made great of Iowa and our Nation as a private-cit- across the globe. strides in improving productivity and izen ambassador of good will and un- This important program has several the quality of its product. These efforts derstanding. In addition, he has been phases. First, beginning this summer, to make the hosiery industry more remarkably generous in hosting many landmines will be removed near the old competitive have resulted in signifi- exchanges and delegations from those Khe May military base in the town of cant technological and design improve- countries to our Nation and our State Dong Ha in Quang Tri Province. Amer- ments in the manufacture of hosiery. of Iowa. John has known personally all ican and Canadian retired military ex- As a result, the hosiery industry has of the recent leaders of the Soviet perts as well as Vietnamese local mili- likewise made enormous gains in the Union and Russia and is well known tia will extract these destructive weap- area of foreign trade. Exports in 1995 among farmers and policy makers in ons of war. Then, in November, a grew by 9 percent over 1994 levels to 22 the countries of the former Soviet Friendship Forest will be planted in million dozen pairs—and that, Mr. Union. this area. Not only will this serve as a President, is a lot of hosiery exports. We Iowans are tremendously proud of cooperative effort of the Westerners Mr. President, my hat’s off to the ho- all the good work that John Chrystal and Vietnamese who plant these trees, siery industry because it is making a has done over the years to help im- it will help set up a buffer to stop the real difference in many small commu- prove food and agriculture systems in dry, hot winds from Laos and restore nities where the hosiery plant is often the former Soviet Union and to foster life to deforested terrain. the main employer, providing good, stronger ties and a deeper level of un- Next, construction of a Landmine stable jobs for its employees. derstanding among our peoples. Awareness Education Center will I extend my sincere thanks and con- Mr. President, I ask that a number of begin. Educational displays will be cre- gratulations to the hosiery industry articles pertaining to the awarding of ated, so children and adults may under- and to its many thousands of employ- the Order of Friendship to John stand how to identify potentially un- ees for their outstanding contribution Chrystal be printed in the RECORD. safe areas, and what to do if a land- to our State and Nation.∑ The article follows: VerDate Aug 31 2005 05:50 Jun 21, 2008 Jkt 041999 PO 00000 Frm 00176 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 J:\ODA16\1996_F~1\S02AU6.REC S02AU6 mmaher on MIKETEMP with SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS August 2, 1996 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S9631 [From the Carroll, IA, Daily Times Herald, place. It’s a really difficult but exciting time Russia, received on Monday the Order of June 24, 1996] for them.’’ Friendship, the highest honor Russia can be- CHRYSTAL EARNS HIGH RUSSIAN HONOR ‘‘I suppose it will be another decade or gen- stow on a foreigner. eration before they achieve the goals that I Chrystal, 70, of Coon Rapids is one of two (By Butch Heman) hold dear, but I have no doubt they’ll Americans to receive the award, which also John Chrystal jokes that dozens of times achieve them.’’ has been given to heads of state such as he’s gone to Russia, ‘‘one of the few major Chrystal said that despite the fall of com- South African president Nelson Mandela. nations in the world that we’ve never had a munism, less stability exists in the region. Yuli Vorontsov, Russian ambassador to the war with,’’ and apparently hasn’t angered Communism, although a government by United States, praised Chrystal for his many anybody there yet. edict, maintained control, he said. years of advising first the Soviet Union and Russia honored the rural Coon Rapids man ‘‘That’s not to say this isn’t a much better now Russia.