Thomas Foley: “I thank the chairman and all Members working together on this very, very important resolution, House Resolution 231. My…”

“I thank the chairman and all Members working together on this very, very important resolution, House Resolution 231. My grandfather, my father and brother-in-law all served as police officers, and, thank the Lord, they did so without injury or death. But there are thousands who have sacrificed their lives in order to protect the peace and tranquility of our community. The President spoke last week here on our Capitol grounds relative to a tribute to fallen police officers, and it is fitting that we now memorialize this on the House floor. There is no finer occupation, and I am torn between several that I admire greatly, with public education and teachers being one. But law enforcement personnel and fire fighters are true heroes in the sense that they go to work each and every day not knowing what to anticipate at the end of their shift or during their shift. They patrol back alleys, they come across frightening situations. They are constantly putting their lives on the line for the betterment of humanity. Young fire fighters and police officers went racing up the World Trade Center without worrying about their own lives, but making certain they served those who were trapped, and tried to rescue as many as possible. Those are heroes.…”