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7. LETTERS OF COMMENDATION (Cont'd c mmunity. This shows how things can be done efficiently with s curity and keep a crowd control, and that a number of people h ve commented on it. M% Ed Soltesz said, "accolades and thank you's" are wonderful aid they appreciate it, but stated that we did have a Chairperson f )r the St. Patrick's Day Festivities Program, Mrs. Pat DeClercq, Clerk of the Board of Works and Safety. This lady did a lot of p one calling and _a lot of effort, and the late time given that tie President would stop in South Bend also. Consequently, every - t ing that had been planned went out the window, and it was frus- t ating to the ones involved in the planning. In fact, it was a c allenge! They had to work fast, but received wonderful coopera- tion from a lot of people. There were a lot of contingency plans f r the emergencies made, which they are happy to say they did n t have to use. Mr. Soltesz suggested the Chairperson, Mrs. DeClercq, ba presented a letter of commendation. (Also agreed to and carried). M% John R. Kagel advised that the Commission and staff were repre- s nted on many planning meetings by the President of the Redevelop - m nt Commission, Mr. F. Jay Nimtz, who will verify that they worked a ound the clock changing few of the items. They worked with the W ite House staff and the Secret Service and a lot of things had to be d ne behind the scene. We were fortunate to have our Commission Presi- d nt sit in on many of the meetings and represent the staff on these matters. Mr. Kagel revealed they have received numerous thanks on tie security measures taken for the protection of President Ford aid working with the Secret Service, and putting our best foot f rward for the community. The statements were made that President F rd had received the warmest greeting of any place he has visited, aid that officially, the City of South Bend, and Mayor Miller and his staff are to be commended for a memorable day. We were informed by tie White House staff that the press count was over 80 million people w re viewing television that night across the nation, and that we hid, besides all the other news media coverage, a real great tribute t our community, and that the people of the community should be Gon- g atulated for the warmness and cooperativeness they have shown on P esident Ford's visit to our community. Mayor Miller had asked t at all the departments cooperate in every way possible to make tie President's visit a memorable and successful one. The Mayor aid his cabinet are to be congratulated! M% Soltesz said that the City of Chicago warmly recognizes that tie City of South Bend was really leading the nation on St. Patrick's Day as relayed by the International Press. The St. Joseph Band, after parading in South Bend, also went down State Street in Chicago aid were excellent, and then came back and performed for the Presi- d nt's departure in South Bend at the Airport. We have had the m st beautiful people here in South Bend - -the attitudes of the c mmunity and how they looked to the nation. They had respect f r the properties and respect for each other, and this was an e ample of participation and that people do respond to things on- g ing. - 14 -