[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 75 (Saturday, May 26, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E986]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  TRIBUTE TO ADAM T. POPIELARCHECK, LIBRARY OF CONGRESS POLICE OFFICER

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. STENY H. HOYER

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, May 25, 2001

  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to a fallen member of 
the congressional community whose sudden passing reminds us how 
precious and fragile life is. On Monday, May 14, 2001, Officer Adam T. 
Popielarcheck, a 17-year veteran of the Library of Congress Police, 
lost his life in a traffic accident near his home in Mechanicsville, 
Maryland. Officer Popielarcheck's death saddens not only his own 
family, but also his fellow Library Police officers and numerous other 
employees of the Library, where he had embarked upon a second career 
after retiring as a lieutenant from the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan 
Police Department in 1983.
  Millions of people visit the Capitol complex each year, and hundreds 
of thousands of them visit America's national treasure, the Library of 
Congress, whose buildings also grace Capitol Hill directly across the 
street. Although most Library visitors, and perhaps some employees, may 
never have known Adam Popielarcheck's name, they and indeed we all, owe 
him a debt of gratitude. It was Mr. Popielarcheck's job to help assure 
the safety and security of Library visitors, staff and collections, and 
he did it superbly every day. His colleagues have amply demonstrated 
since his death that they held Adam Popielarcheck in the highest 
esteem, both personally and professionally, and that he is sorely 
missed.
  Officer Popielarcheck is also sorely missed by his widow, Maryellen, 
and by his sons, Thomas and Adam W.; his daughters, Tina and Tammy; his 
mother, Angelene; five brothers; two sisters; and by the many nieces, 
nephews, other relatives, and countless friends he leaves behind across 
the Washington, D.C., area, in Southern Maryland, in Pennsylvania, 
where he was born 60 years ago, and elsewhere.
  Mr. Speaker, in this time of sorrow for the Popielarcheck family and 
the entire congressional community, let us pause and reflect on the 
life of a valued and wonderful man, Adam T. Popielarcheck, who toiled 
among us here, gave us his best and left us far too soon.

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