[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 61 (Thursday, May 14, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E871]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E871]]
                       A TIME TO HONOR THE FALLEN

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                        HON. STEVE C. LaTOURETTE

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 14, 1998

  Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, this week thousands of law enforcement 
officers from around the country have assembled in our nation's capital 
for National Police Week. One of the enduring ceremonies of Police Week 
is the candlelight vigil held each year at the National Law Enforcement 
Officers Memorial.
  Each year at this memorial, about 10,000 people join together to 
honor our fallen officers. At last night's 10th Annual Candlelight 
Vigil, the names of 159 law enforcement officers who lost their lives 
in the line of duty in 1997 were added to the memorial. To date, more 
than 14,000 men and women have died while trying to keep our 
communities safe, with the earliest known death in 1794 when U.S. 
Marshal Robert Forsyth was shot and killed.
  On average, one law enforcement officer is killed somewhere in 
America nearly every other day, so it is important that we as a nation 
honor those men and women in blue who have died. One of the men whose 
name was added to the wall this year is from the 19th Congressional 
District of Ohio, which I have the honor of representing. Ashtabula 
Police Department Patrolman Bill Glover was shot November 17, 1997, 
while apprehending a robbery suspect. He left behind a wife, Marianne, 
and three young children.
  The addition of Officer Glover's name will bring the total number of 
Ohioans killed in duty to 621. Sadly, only four states--New York, 
California, Illinois and Texas--have had more officers killed in the 
line of duty than Ohio. Six of the Ohio officers who died in the line 
of duty are from my hometown of Lake Country, Ohio:
  Constable Ernest C. Gray, Willoughby Township, July 16, 1919.
  Deputy Marshal Lawrence R. Yaxley, Mentor Village, January 30, 1927.
  Lt. Joyce Robbin Moore, Willoughby Police Department, March 22, 1955.
  Patrolman John Apanites, Cleveland Police Department, April 7, 1969.
  Auxiliary Capt. George Maxin, Willowick Police Department, December 
31, 1976.
  Detective Jack Spohn, Willoughby Police Department, August 2, 1998.
  As a member of Congress, I have had the privilege of participating in 
National Police Week the last three years. Tonight, like the past three 
years, I will participate in a solemn Pipe Band March that will 
conclude with a wreath laying ceremony at the at the National Law 
Enforcement Officers Memorial. As in past years, I will be joined by 
Chief Jim McBride of the Lakeland Police Department.
  I wish from the bottom of my heart we had no need for such a 
memorial, that every year could pass without candlelight vigils and 
wreath laying ceremonies. It would be a wonderful world if all our 
officers could live full lives, watch their children and grandchildren 
grow up, and die of old age in their beds next to their loved ones. 
Unfortunately, far too many die far too young, and we are left to try 
and make sense of their senseless deaths. Our National Law Enforcement 
Officers Memorial helps to make this possible.
  I am honored to be able to pay tribute not only to our fallen 
officers from home, but also to all those who have bravely served our 
country. We must never forget their unselfish service because they 
never forgot their duty to serve and protect

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