READ ACROSS AMERICA RESOLUTION INTRODUCED BY SENATOR COLLINS

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Susan Collins will follow up her introduction and passage of a Senate resolution marking Monday, March 3, 2003 as Read Across America Day with a visit to a Hampden elementary school where she will read to young students. Thursday night, the Senate unanimously passed the Collins resolution designating Monday as Read Across America Day. Each year, for the last six years, the national reading celebration has taken place on or about March 2nd, which is Theodore Geisel's birthday. Geisel was better known to his reading public as Dr. Seuss.

To join in the celebration, Senator Collins will visit the Earl C. McGraw Elementary School, 20 Main Road North, in Hampden at 9:30 Monday morning. The event is being sponsored by Phi Theta Kappa Beta Beta Omicron and the National Honor Society of Eastern Maine Technical College, in conjunction with the McGraw School.

"One of the greatest gifts my parents and teachers gave to me as a child was to instill in me a love of reading,"said Senator Collins. "When I visit schools, I hope to impart that love of reading and all the possibilities that come with being a life-long reader. Read Across America Day is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the joys of reading."

Senator Collins will read The Sea Chest to a second grade class, then spend time with all the students at a school-wide assembly.

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