[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 25 (Wednesday, February 28, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S1695]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING THE FAMILY OF KAYLA ROLLAND

 Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, there is a family in my home State 
of Michigan who is to be honored for its courage. The family of Kayla 
Rolland, the little girl who was shot by her first-grade classmate, has 
been a source of inspiration to all families who have lost loved ones 
in gun tragedies.
  Despite her own suffering, Kayla's mother, Veronica McQueen, found 
the strength to speak out to all Americans about her family's tragedy 
at the Million Mom March. The memory of Kayla and Mrs. McQueen's words 
of courage helped lead thousands of families from our State to march in 
Washington for sensible and safe gun laws.
  Mrs. McQueen continues to speak out with hope that she can prevent 
another family from suffering what her family has suffered. Last 
weekend, as family and friends gathered together to memorialize the one 
year shooting death of young Kayla, Mrs. McQueen, said:

       I pray to God that by being here and sharing with you our 
     sorrow and grief in some way we have made people more aware 
     of gun and school safety and common sense gun laws and to 
     protect our children from guns and, hopefully, save children 
     from what happened to my special little angel, Kayla. This is 
     so important to us.
       It has been a very horrible year for all of us. The pain 
     will not go away. I miss her more as time goes on, but 
     Kayla's behind me. Her spirit is driving me on to help save 
     other children from gun violence, and I hope and pray you all 
     will--help save our children.
       In a few days, it will be one year since I lost a piece of 
     my heart with Kayla's death. Please--mother, fathers, 
     sisters, brothers, everywhere--please never forget how my 
     baby died.
       Let's always put our children first and speak out for their 
     safety.

  I regret that I could not be at the memorial service for Kayla, but I 
want to assure Mrs. McQueen and her family that I stand by her words 
and her mission. Kayla will always be in my thoughts and prayers and 
hopefully she will be the spirit that guides us all to put the safety 
of children first.

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