[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 123 (Monday, July 30, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Page S10316]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. SUNUNU (for himself and Mr. Gregg):
  S. 1896. A bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 11 Central Street in Hillsborough, New Hampshire, as 
the ``Officer Jeremy Todd Charron Post Office''; to the Committee on 
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
  Mr. SUNUNU. Mr. President, I rise to honor a fallen officer of the 
Epsom, NH, Police Department, Officer Jeremy Todd Charron, by 
introducing a bill to designate the United States Postal Service 
facility at 11 Central Street in Hillsborough, New Hampshire, as the 
Officer Jeremy Todd Charron Post Office.
  Born on March 18, 1973, Officer Charron was the third of five 
children to Bob and Fran Charron. Originally from Pittsfield, NH, 
Jeremy and his family moved to Hillsborough in 1977. Throughout his 
early life, Jeremy grew intensely goal orientated, a trait that 
persisted throughout his shortened life, and by the time he had reached 
second grade he knew his calling was to one day serve as a U.S. Marine.
  Although he was an outstanding athlete in many sports, he excelled at 
playing defense on the soccer field. The same tenacity that Jeremy used 
on the soccer field, he carried with him off the field. One poignant 
example of Jeremy's developing leadership occurred as a friend lost his 
hair from cancer treatments and was teased by fellow classmates. While 
it may have been easier for most students to ignore the taunting of 
other classmates, Jeremy actively defended his friend. Throughout 
Jeremy's life, he stood up for what he thought was right and protected 
those who could not defend themselves.
  During Jeremy's high school years at Hillsborough-Deering High 
School, he grew into a leader, quickly becoming active in all aspects 
of the school community. His peers voted him ``most spirited'' and 
elected him class president. At the same time, he had convinced 8 
classmates to join the Marines with him following graduation. Together, 
they would dedicate their weekends to training for their future service 
in the Marine Corps.
  After graduating high school in 1992, Jeremy entered the Marine Corps 
and proudly served his country for 4 years. As his enlistment term drew 
to a close, he had a new aspiration, which was to become a New 
Hampshire State Trooper, and looked forward to starting a family.
  To achieve this objective, Jeremy enrolled at the New Hampshire 
Technical College in Concord to study Criminal Justice, and was hired 
by the Epsom, New Hampshire Police Department as a part-time and then 
full-time police officer.
  Sadly, Jeremy's dream was cut short. On August 24, 1997, the morning 
after he attended the funerals of New Hampshire State Troopers Leslie 
Lord and Scott Phillips, Officer Charron was responding to a report of 
a suspicious car, which contained two men. Tragically, while Officer 
Charron questioned one of the men, the individual pulled out a gun and 
opened fire. Although Jeremy was wearing a bullet-proof vest, one of 
the bullets struck him in an unprotected area. Despite his fatal 
wounds, Jeremy heroically returned fire until he collapsed, forcing his 
two killers to abandon their car and steal a near-by truck that could 
be identified by police, eventually leading to their capture.

  Had Jeremy's dreams not been cut short at the age of 24, he would 
have achieved his goals of becoming a State Trooper and having a family 
of his own. Jeremy's murderers stripped our Nation, the State of New 
Hampshire and the community of a true patriot, citizen, and role model, 
as well as a loving friend and family member.
  Ten years have gone by since Jeremy's passing and a new generation of 
7 nieces and nephews know Jeremy's stories. People of Hillsborough, NH, 
still have stories to share and lessons to learn from their very own 
American hero. As the years move forward, the citizens and future 
generations of Hillsborough will always remember Jeremy and share 
anecdotes about his life when they visit the Officer Jeremy Todd 
Charron Post Office Building.
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