Benjamin Gilman: “this has been a very sad week for the people of the British Isles, for the American people, and for all people around…”

“this has been a very sad week for the people of the British Isles, for the American people, and for all people around the world. Diana, Princess of Wales, a model of grace, humor and charity, was tragically taken from us so terribly prematurely. As this resolution notes, Diana, Princess of Wales, was involved in a multitude of good works, both in Britain and throughout the world, and many of her works on behalf of worthy humanitarian causes were undertaken right here in the United States. Whether the cause was the struggle against HIV/AIDS, breast cancer, or homelessness, or the effort to protect innocent people from antipersonnel land mines, Princess Diana made her presence known in an inimitable way. This beautiful young lady burst on the world scene in a storybook marriage which regrettably dissolved in unhappiness. Yet, despite this sad event, the Princess continued her humanitarian work while devoting herself to the upbringing of her two sons, upon whom so much responsibility will one day be thrust. The outpouring of emotion by the American people that we have witnessed is due to an identification with a woman who personified a fairy-tale princess whose life represented infinite possibilities. We are greatly diminished by this loss, and it is only fitting that Members of this body join together with the American people in expressing our condolences.”