Paul Coverdell: “we, of course, extend our grief and condolences to the family of Alice Hawthorne from Albany, GA, and for Melih Uzunyoz…”

“we, of course, extend our grief and condolences to the family of Alice Hawthorne from Albany, GA, and for Melih Uzunyoz, a Turkish national, both of whom lost their lives in a terrorist-related bombing that occurred at approximately 1:20 a.m. the other morning. Also, we extend our concern and prayers to the 110 casualties that occurred during the bombing and to the 17 who remain in the hospital. Mr. President, we all owe a group of law enforcement officers a deep debt. The officer who spotted this bomb and his colleagues, in the face of grave danger, were heroes, in every sense, of the Centennial Olympics. In the face of danger themselves, they remained on site, and with every avenue available and open to them they tried to evacuate the crowd from the area of danger. I am absolutely convinced that, without their diligence and duty, the casualties would have been far, far greater. So these officers, these men and women, who tried to evacuate the park are due a deep debt of gratitude from all of us. Further, the volunteers and officers who stayed, not knowing whether there was a series of bombs, to help those wounded receive comfort, aid, and assistance so that they might be appropriately hospitalized, performed admirably, incredibly in the face of grave danger.”