[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 111 (Thursday, July 25, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S8926]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            MEMORIALIZING MICHIGAN VICTIMS OF TWA FLIGHT 800

 Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, on behalf of Michigan I would like 
to express my deep regret at the loss of several Michigan residents who 
lost their lives in the explosion of TWA Flight 800 near New York. We 
still do not know what happened to flight 800, and therefore do not yet 
know if there are culprits behind it who must be brought to justice. 
But we do know that the lives of fine people have been lost before 
their time.
  Mr. President, six people with close ties to Michigan died in this 
crash. They were Courtney Johns, an 18-year-old Bloomfield Hills Marian 
High School graduate, headed for Paris on an exchange program. Dr. 
Ghassan and Mrs. Nina Haurani, citizens and parents in Grosse Pointe 
Shores, starting a brief European vacation. Celine Rio, an 11-year-old 
French girl returning to her home after a 3-week visit as part of a 
national cultural exchange program. Tracy Anne Hammer, a doctoral 
student in veterinary science and microbiology at Michigan State 
University, who was to give a speech on cardiac disease in doberman 
pinschers before a professional audience. And Elaine Loffredo, a 
Michigan native who gave up a career in nursing for the excitement of 
air travel.
  Mr. President, these people touched the hearts of many around them, 
in Michigan and elsewhere. Courtney Johns was a class leader in high 
school who was headed to Villanova University in the fall. She leaves 
behind grieving friends and a family devastated by the loss of this 
young, promising life. Ghassan and Nina Haurani were known in their 
community as loving parents and good neighbors. Termed ``joyous, giving 
people,'' they, too, leave behind them grieving friends and a family 
that will miss them terribly. Tracy Anne Hammer, traveling with her 
mother, was well on her way to a promising career, was, indeed to 
launch that career in France, when she was taken from us, her family 
and friends. Celine Rio, a young girl on the edge of adolescence, had 
learned about America and had gained a second family in the Winters, 
her exchange program hosts. Now the Winters and her many other friends 
in America must join family and friends in France in lamenting the loss 
of this young spirit. And Elaine Loffredo, who found such joy in air 
travel and in the people she met--I am told that meeting Mother Theresa 
was a highlight of her career--was taken from her husband and other 
family and friends, by this explosion.
  Mr. President, these were fine people, leading fine lives until they 
were taken from us. I know I speak for my entire State of Michigan when 
I tell families and friends of those we have lost that we share their 
loss, and that our thoughts and prayers are with them.

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