Supports Catholic Schools
To The Editor:

The House of Representatives unanimously passed a resolution on January 23, praising Catholic schools for their ongoing contribution to education and for their key role promoting and ensuring a brighter, stronger future for the nation. I like to applaud Congress for this resolution, for it has been a long time coming but most welcome indeed. Now in the resolution it said, "The schools produce students strongly dedicated to their faith, families and communities by providing [an] intellectually stimulating environment rich in spirituality, character and moral development."

Now we at St. Anastasia Knights of Columbus Council #5911 have seen this firsthand with the fine students at St. Anastasia Elementary School in Douglaston who are educated there and many have graduated. We have been involved with the school by helping raise money for the school with our various fundraisers. You see we realize these students are tomorrow's leaders. We even sponsor every year an essay contest that is directed to the eighth grade class and is titled, "The Responsibility of a Catholic Citizen in a Free Society." We give out certificates to the three winners and also award them savings bonds and all those who participated receive certificates of merit from the Knights of Columbus. We have been doing this for many years now and have found these children turning in quite impressive essays which I believe is due in part to the dedicated and caring teachers who do their best to see these children become the best they can be. As such I hope God helps us to continue to keep our Catholic schools vibrant and thriving for these schools needs to stay open for these children are our nation's future.
Sincerely Yours,
Frederick R. Bedell Jr.
Bellerose