[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 68 (Wednesday, May 15, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H5135]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  NATIONAL PEACE OFFICERS MEMORIAL DAY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Minnesota [Mr. Ramstad] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. RAMSTAD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on National Peace Officers 
Memorial day to pay tribute to the 14,064 peace officers who have given 
their lives to protect our communities. The names of these 14,064 brave 
men and women are permanently etched on the walls of the National Law 
Enforcement Officers Memorial, located just a few blocks from here.
  This year, Mr. Speaker, 161 new names were added in a candlelight 
vigil representing police offices who were killed during 1995, and 
anyone who attended the ceremony today saw the families of these 161 
police officers had to be profoundly moved, just as they were by the 
President's heartfelt remarks and by the beautiful singing of Mariah 
Carey.
  Mr. Speaker, my home State of Minnesota has suffered the loss of 
three police officers who have died on duty since July of 1995:
  Paul Moen, a Minneapolis police officer died during a struggle; Brian 
Klinefelter, a St. Joseph, Minnesota police officer was killed just 3 
months ago by a liquor store robber; and less than 2 weeks ago we lost 
Rice County Deputy John Liebenstein when his car was rammed by the 
teenaged driver of a stolen car.

  Tragedies like these, Mr. Speaker, remind me of cop friends I have 
lost over the years: Sergeant J.W. Anderson of the Wayzata Police 
Department; Officer Jerry Haaf of the Minneapolis Police Department. 
Just yesterday I met with St. Paul police officers Mike and Frank 
O'Brien, whose brother, John, was killed in the line of duty 15 years 
ago.
  In spite of these and many other tragic killings repeated far too 
often in far too many communities, we must never lose hope in the war 
against crime, and with the selfless dedication of law enforcement 
professionals like John O'Brien, like Sergeant J.W. Anderson, like 
Jerry Haaf, like Paul Moen, like Brian Klinefelter, like John 
Liebenstein, we will prevail in the war against crime, selfless, 
dedicated law enforcement professionals like these brave men and women 
honored today at the steps of the Capitol.
  Mr. Speaker, there truly is no greater love than the love shown by 
those who lay down their lives for their friends and their fellow 
citizens. We must never forget the ultimate sacrifice of police 
officers who have laid down their lives for people they do not even 
know. Every single visitor to our Nation's capital should pay a visit 
to the Law enforcement Officers Memorial located at the Judiciary 
Square Metro stop. The names carved in the wall of the memorial are a 
powerful, powerful testament to the thousands of officers who have 
sacrificed their lives and the hundreds of thousands more who risk 
their lives every day protecting our communities.
  Mr. Speaker, we honor the dead by respecting the living, and today we 
honor law enforcement officials and their families for their 
sacrifices. Every single time a police officer puts that uniform on, he 
or she puts their life on the line.
  I also hope, Mr. Speaker, we will continue to honor the memory of our 
fallen heroes through our actions in this Chamber, promoting policies 
which prevent crime and violence and supporting our brave men and women 
in law enforcement.

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