[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 56 (Thursday, April 22, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E745]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        CHILDREN'S MEMORIAL DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ELLEN O. TAUSCHER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 22, 1999

  Mrs. TAUSCHER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Children's 
Memorial Flag Project and hope that my colleagues will join me in 
supporting the establishment of a National Children's Memorial Day 
where we remember all children who die by violence in our country.
  The Children's Memorial Flag Project originated in Alameda County, 
CA, part of which falls in my Congressional district. This project is 
dedicated to remembering the children who die as a result of abuse, 
neglect, and homicide. Each time a child dies as a result of violence, 
the Children's Memorial Flag is flown at half-staff and a young oak 
tree is planted in the Children's Memorial Grove. This county effort 
has become a national effort and I would like to acknowledge the 
efforts of my dear friend, Alameda County Supervisor, Gail Steele, who 
created the project. Last year, 25 states flew the Children's Memorial 
flag over their state capitol on the fourth Friday in April which they 
designated as Children's Memorial Day. I am working with several Bay 
Area colleagues to introduce legislation that would adopt the 
Children's Memorial Flag and establish the fourth Friday in April as a 
national Children's Memorial Day.
  Tragedies such as the school shooting which occurred recently in 
Littleton, Colorado, remind us of how precious our children are. We 
cannot let these children, nor the thousands of other children who die 
of violence, be forgotten. I urge my colleagues to join me honoring the 
memory of children lost to violence this Friday, April 23rd and to 
adopt this day as National Children's Memorial Day. I hope honoring and 
remembering these children will be the driving impetus for us to work 
together as a nation to keep America's children safe from violent 
crime.

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