[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 125 (Friday, September 29, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1943-E1944]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




IN APPRECIATION OF MS. ELAINE MAR, SUPERVISOR OF THE WORLD TRADE CENTER 
 DNA IDENTIFICATION UNIT OF THE NEW YORK CITY OFFICE OF CHIEF MEDICAL 
                                EXAMINER

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 29, 2006

  Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor a constituent of mine, 
forensic scientist Elaine Mar. Ms. Mar is the retiring Supervisor of 
the World Trade Center DNA Identification Unit of the New York City 
Office of Chief Medical Examiner [OCME].
  For 4\1/2\ years, she has shown extraordinary leadership and made a 
commitment to public service far above and beyond the call of duty. She 
has remained fully dedicated to putting names to the innocent victims 
of 9/11 and allowing their return to their families so that they may be 
laid to rest with dignity and love. She has been the quintessential 
``behind the scenes'' hero.
  On the morning of September 11, Elaine was flying from New York's 
Laguardia airport to San Francisco, which was grounded in St. Louis as 
a result of the attacks that day. When she returned to New York she was 
detailed by the Medical Examiner to the lab, helping clear the decks of 
the rape and homicide case work that is the normal business of the 
OCME. But by late November, she was part of the team working to 
identify over 20,600 human remains of 2,749 people who died in 
Manhattan. By December, she was the lead supervisor of that team, and 
has continued in that role well into 2006.
  Although I am told that she never sought managerial advancement, 
Elaine was a gifted leader under the most incredible of pressures. Many 
professional forensic scientists have left this project. Some have 
found the work so heartbreaking that they have left the profession 
altogether. Despite the staggering weight of her task, Elaine has 
always been wholly dedicated to the identification effort; for the 
first three full years she could almost always be found still at her 
desk at 11, midnight or 1 a.m. On more than one occasion, she worked 
straight through the night on a complicated DNA identification, 
surprising colleagues when they arrived in the morning. Elaine Mar has 
been the only person who has worked on identifying--quite literally--
truckloads of fragmented human life for nearly the entire time since we 
were attacked.
  Partly because of her humble approach to her responsibilities, only a 
few people appreciate how many of those killed have been identified 
solely because of Elaine Mar's faithful and steadfast commitment to the 
victims and their families. She has led her team by example, showing a 
professionalism and selfless citizenship that inspires those around 
her. On the few occasions where recognition for the work of her team 
has been given, she has put forward one of her subordinates to accept 
the thanks of a grateful city. However, I would like to take this 
opportunity to publicly thank Ms. Mar for all the work she has done for 
a grateful city and nation. I wish her well as she makes a new life for 
herself in Michigan.

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