[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 67 (Tuesday, May 11, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E923]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         SALUTE TO THOMAS E. GOODWIN, GOSHEN POLICE DEPARTMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TIM ROEMER

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 11, 1999

  Mr. ROEMER. Mr. Speaker, this week Congress and the nation pause to 
honor the more than one half million law enforcement officers across 
the country who put their lives on the line each day to protect us and 
our families. These dedicated men and women are prepared to give what 
Abraham Lincoln called ``their last full measure of devotion'' so we 
can continue to enjoy the freedom and quality of life we sometimes take 
for granted.
  Federal, state, and local police officers perform a great service for 
our communities. All too often they literally are the last thread 
between us and the forces of violence and chaos. We ask a great deal of 
the officers who protect us. We ask them to defend our homes and 
families; to patrol our roads and highways; and to bring justice to 
criminals and murderers who would otherwise prey on our society. We ask 
a great deal from this ``blue line,'' but it never breaks and is always 
there to guard us. For this we owe the nation's police officers our 
deepest gratitude and our strong support.
  One officer from the congressional district I represent, Thomas E. 
Goodwin from the Goshen Police Department, made the ultimate sacrifice 
last year while defending his community. The sadness and grief brought 
on by Officer's Goodwin's senseless death is a grim reminder that our 
law enforcement officers put their lives on the line every day. I join 
his family and Goshen in honoring his dedication and service to the 
Maple City. Just last week, Goshen dedicated a public park in Goodwin's 
honor, a strong reflection of how the community came together with a 
sense of caring after this tragedy.
  This week we pay tribute not only to those who gave their lives, but 
also to every family--to every spouse, every child, every parent, and 
every friend. We pay tribute not only to those who died, but to those 
who have lost them, to the survivors. And we pay tribute to the law 
enforcement officers who continue to go to work each day, putting their 
lives on the line, in the name of freedom.
  As we honor these heroes with ceremonies and flags standing at half-
staff, we should rededicate ourselves to ending the violence that has 
taken such a toll on these peace officers. We can best honor their 
service by seeing that today's officers have the training, equipment 
and public support they need to accomplish their dangerous mission. to 
quote Lincoln again, our greatest tribute to these fallen officers is 
to see that they ``shall not have died in vain.''

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