[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 164 (Friday, November 30, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12272-S12273]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              PATRIOT DAY

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Judiciary 
Committee be discharged from further consideration of H.J. Res. 71 and 
the Senate then proceed to its immediate consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk 
will report the joint resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A joint resolution (H.J. Res. 71) amending title 36, United 
     States Code, designating September 11 as Patriot Day.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the joint 
resolution.
  Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, I rise today to urge adoption of H.J. Res. 
71, which designates September 11 as ``Patriot Day.'' This resolution 
also calls on all Americans to observe a moment of silence to remember 
all those who lost their lives in the terrorist attack of September 11, 
2001. I am the Senate sponsor of this bill along with Senators Schumer 
and Specter.
  The events of September 11 have forever changed the lives of all 
Americans. We have all experienced a renewed sense of community and a 
sense of patriotic vigor that are the best of America. So many lives 
were touched by the terrorist attack--not only the thousands of heroes 
who lost their lives but also those they left behind. I am certain that 
few Americans will remain untouched by the devastation of our citizens 
that we saw in downtown New York, in the Pennsylvania countryside, and 
at our Pentagon.
  These terrorists killed innocent Americans from every part of the 
country. We were so saddened to learn that Mary Alice Wahlstrom and her 
daughter, Carolyn Beug, of Kaysville, Utah, were struck down by this 
senseless violence. Mary Alice's husband of 52 years, Norman, described 
Mary Alice as the ``happiest lady you'll meet.'' As one of the 
``kids,'' she joined with her only daughter to help her twin 18-year 
old granddaughters settle in at art school on the East Coast. In this 
time of grief, we join Norman, her four sons, and 18 grandchildren in 
hoping that our love and faith will continue to sustain each of us 
during this tragedy.
  The grief all Americans feel today is barely speakable. I, for one, 
cannot express in words the sorrow I feel for the thousands of families 
profoundly shattered by the acts of war perpetrated against us on 
September 11th. I commend my colleagues who have spoken so eloquently 
at such a great moment of national tragedy.

[[Page S12273]]

  As many of my colleagues have noted, our grief is leavened by the 
countless stories of sacrifice and heroism. Heroes such as the 
policemen, firemen and emergency personnel who rushed to the buildings 
and entered them in a race against collapse, a race that they 
unfortunately lost. I hope that every American who sees a fireman or a 
policeman today thinks of the sacrifices that these every day 
individuals are prepared to make for the good of our society, for the 
good of ourselves, every day.
  There is no calamity America will withstand that will not be met with 
and overwhelmed by the decency, courage and selflessness of Americans 
coming to the aid of their own. It will be years before we can collect 
all of these stories and it will be impossible to measure the courage 
and bravery of these countless everyday heroes. As John says in the 
Bible, ``Greater love hath no man than this; that a man lay down his 
life for his friends.''
  I also commend my colleagues for their unanimous support for the 
Administration of President George W. Bush. Americans are not partisan 
when we are to face a common foe, nor are their representatives.
  We will face this foe together, and together we will prevail.
  We must never forget the attack on America and the mighty resolve of 
the American spirit that has never shown brighter than after September 
11. This resolution before us today will ensure that we will never 
forget the events of September 11, 2001.
  I commend my colleagues in the House for adopting this resolution and 
urge my Senate colleagues to adopt this important measure tonight. 
Elaine and I offer our prayers for the victims and their families, as 
well as the thousands of brave rescue workers, including Utah's Urban 
Search and Rescue team. The team consists of fire department personnel 
from Salt Lake City and County. Our prayers go to the member of our 
armed forces, the greatest defenders of freedom a nation has ever 
known. And our prayers go to President Bush and his Administration, who 
are dedicated to peace and must now respond to war.
  May God Bless America.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution 
and preamble be agreed to and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the 
table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The joint resolution (H.J. Res. 71) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.

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