On the recordOctober 9, 2015
It is with great sadness that I am here today to honor the memory of the crew of El Faro, lost in a hurricane in the Bahamas last week. Four people from my State, the State of Maine, were aboard the El Faro: Michael Holland, of North Wilton; Dylan Meklin, of Rockland; Danielle Randolph, of Rockland; and the captain, a man of great experience, Mike Davidson, of Windham. In Maine, we have a strong connection to those who make their living on the water, and we know the risks they take every time they go to sea, but in no way does that make a tragedy any less painful. It is difficult for me to know what the families of the crew are going through and have been going through, but they are in my thoughts and the thoughts of everyone in our State. I also want to thank the Coast Guard, the Navy, and the Air Force for their round-the-clock efforts during what were very dangerous conditions. And although I wish the results had been very, very different, we owe those men, as well, men and women, a debt of gratitude for risking their lives to try to find the crew of El Faro. ____________________
