[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 78 (Tuesday, May 13, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4120-S4121]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING CONCERNS OF POLICE SURVIVORS
Mr. SANDERS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate
now proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 562, which was submitted
earlier today.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
The legislative clerk read as follows:
A resolution (S. Res. 562) honoring Concerns of Police
Survivors as the organization begins its 25th year of service
to family members of law enforcement officers killed in the
line of duty.
There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the
resolution.
Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, our Nation is blessed by the selfless
service of more than 26 million Americans who come to the aid of their
fellow citizens through countless volunteer organizations at the
national, State and local levels. Some of these organizations are
household names, like the American Legion, Scouting, the American Red
Cross, and the American Cancer Society. Others perform their good work
in relative obscurity.
This week, on the occasion of National Police Week, I rise to
acknowledge the good work of a voluntary organization that few outside
the law enforcement community may ever have heard of. But for those in
the law enforcement community, it is the organization to which families
turn in times
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of tragedy. I am referring to Concerns of Police Survivors, C.O.P.S. It
serves some 15,000 surviving family members of law enforcement
tragedies.
Last year, 181 law enforcement officers were killed in the line of
duty. Their names are being added to the National Law Enforcement
Officers Memorial on Judiciary Square this week, bringing the total
number of names on that memorial to 18,274. This evening, the annual
candlelight vigil is being held at the memorial to honor our fallen law
enforcement officers and on Thursday, Peace Officers Memorial Day,
another ceremony will be held at the Capitol. These ceremonies are
visible to all of us. They are attended by law enforcement officers
from around the Nation and the surviving family members of our fallen
law enforcement officers.
But there is another event that occurs every year during National
Police Week that few know about. That event is the National Police
Survivors Seminar which is underway at a hotel in Alexandria, VA. I had
the privilege of visiting the National Police Survivors Seminar one
Saturday morning in 2006. It is a peaceful place and a safe place where
families of fallen law enforcement officers can laugh, cry, grieve, and
heal in the presence of others who have suffered similar losses. There
are special programs for children of fallen law enforcement officers
known as ``C.O.P.S. Kids'' and ``C.O.P.S Teens.''
The National Police Survivors Seminar is the outgrowth of a dinner
that occurred 25 years ago on May 14, 2003. At this dinner 10 widows of
fallen law enforcement officers came together to ask the question,
``What about us?'' During the National Police Week gatherings, everyone
focuses on the loved one whose life is lost, but it also is important
to focus on the needs of survivors who must rebuild their lives from
the ashes.
One year later, the first National Police Survivors Seminar was
convened. It drew 110 law enforcement survivors. Concerns of Police
Survivors was created at that first seminar. Suzie Sawyer was selected
to be the first Executive Director of Concerns of Police Survivors, a
position she still holds today. Some things have changed though. The
National Police Survivors Seminar no longer draws hundreds now it draws
thousands. That is both a tragedy and a blessing. It is a tragedy that
so many law enforcement families have been touched by a line of duty
death. It is a blessing that the volunteers of Concerns of Police
Survivors are there looking out for them. This is but one of many
programs that Concerns of Police Survivors offers to survivors
throughout the year.
Tomorrow marks the 25th anniversary of that dinner meeting that
launched Concerns of Police Survivors. I rise today to offer a
resolution commemorating the 25th anniversary of that meeting and to
honor Concerns of Police Survivors for the quarter century of service
it has provided to law enforcement families that have suffered a line
of duty death.
I know first hand of two Alaska families whose lives have been
touched by the good works of Concerns of Police Survivors. They have
touched families in every one of our States. Concerns of Police
Survivors does not seek recognition for its good works and it's not a
household name. But it has certainly earned our respect and admiration.
On the occasion of its 25th anniversary I am pleased to call this
organization's fine work to the attention of the Senate and the
American people.
Mr. SANDERS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the
resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motions to
reconsider be laid upon the table.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The resolution (S. Res. 562) was agreed to.
The preamble was agreed to.
The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:
S. Res. 562
Whereas Concerns of Police Survivors has showed the highest
amount of concern and respect for tens of thousands of family
members of officers killed in the line of duty;
Whereas those families bear the most immediate and profound
burden of the absences of their loved ones;
Whereas Concerns of Police Survivors is starting its 25th
year as a bedrock of strength for the families of the
Nation's lost heroes;
Whereas it is essential that the Nation recognize the
contributions of Concerns of Police Survivors to those
families; and
Whereas National Police Week, observed each year in the
week containing May 15, is the most appropriate time to honor
Concerns of Police Survivors: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) recognizes and thanks Concerns of Police Survivors for
assisting in the rebuilding of the lives of family members of
law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty across
the United States;
(2) honors Concerns of Police Survivors and recognizes the
organization as it begins its 25th year of service to the
families of the fallen heroes of the Nation;
(3) urges the people of the United States to join with the
Senate in thanking Concerns of Police Survivors; and
(4) recognizes with great appreciation the sacrifices made
by police families and thanks them for providing essential
support to one another.
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