Cord Byrd: “As we approach this Christmas season, our joy is tempered by sorrow over the loss in late November of one of our Senate…”

“As we approach this Christmas season, our joy is tempered by sorrow over the loss in late November of one of our Senate family members. The sorrow is borne of shock and loss as we mourn the sudden departure from this earthly life of our dear friend, Mary Miller Arnold. Yet, as we grieve, we must also give thanks for her life and for the enrichment she brought to all of the lives she touched. It has been my honor and privilege to have served in the U.S. Senate for nearly 50 years. During this time, I have come to greatly appreciate and revere the work of the staff of the U.S. Senate. These wonderful women and men play a sometimes invisible but always crucial role in the work of the Senate. They are dedicated, professional public servants who work long and unpredictable hours. When the Senate is in session, their families' lives suffer and their social lives are almost nonexistent. These are noble people who contribute to the history of our country every day, but, sadly, they will rarely be mentioned in the history books. Yet their lives are perfect examples of humble attention to duty and service. Such a life was Mary Arnold's.”