[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 59 (Wednesday, April 22, 2009)]
[House]
[Page H4589]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    THE 10-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE TRAGEDY AT COLUMBINE HIGH SCHOOL

  (Mr. PERLMUTTER asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute.)
  Mr. PERLMUTTER. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
  I rise today to recognize and mourn the 10-year anniversary of the 
Columbine High School tragedy in Littleton, Colorado.
  On April 20, 1999, the people of Colorado and across our Nation 
learned about the senseless act of violence which took 13 lives that 
day. My friend Congressman Coffman represents Columbine High School. I 
represent an area where many of the families attended Columbine High 
School. One of my daughters played soccer against a girl who was killed 
at Columbine. Our neighbors had a nephew who was killed at Columbine. 
It was a tragedy that affected our community deeply and affected this 
country deeply; but from a terrible tragedy such as that, with 
unspeakable evil and violence, we've seen the growth of a community, 
the coming back together of a community, and we've learned from the 
families of the victims of this terrible violence.
  There is a memorial now built at Clement Park to honor the victims. 
It is near where I live, and it serves as a reminder of the loss but 
also of the growth we can develop from that point on. It was a terrible 
day in Colorado 10 years ago, but if you take a look at the people who 
have risen from those ashes, so to speak, we have five kids who 
attended Columbine that year who are now teachers at the high school. 
There is growth in this country. We deal with evil from time to time, 
but when we come back together, we are a stronger Nation for it. I know 
my community is stronger for the terrible tragedy that we suffered 10 
years ago.

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