Barbara Mikulski: “as the dean of the women in the Senate, I rise to pay tribute to the life and legacy of Diana, the Princess of Wales.…”

“as the dean of the women in the Senate, I rise to pay tribute to the life and legacy of Diana, the Princess of Wales. Our hearts go out to her family and to the British people. We believe it is appropriate that we adopt this resolution to create a national day of mourning on September 6, the day of her funeral. People have expressed surprise at the outpouring of love and grief from the British people. But we shouldn't be surprised. Princess Diana was a remarkable person. We were dazzled by her grace and beauty--but what we truly valued was her compassion. She was called the people's princess. She was born a member of the aristocracy and married into royalty--but she never forgot that Britain's strength was its ordinary working people. The thousands of people laying flowers and waiting in line for hours to sign the condolence book represent a cross section of Britons. They are the senior citizens, the working mothers, the new immigrants--and especially, the children. She treated the people she met with respect and compassion and she taught her children to do the same. Many people go through the motions of doing good works. But with Princess Diana, it came from the heart. The Princess of Wales had her personal challenges. But it is for her public commitments that we will most remember her. She chose her causes carefully. She worked on behalf of those who were most in need.…”