[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 193 (Thursday, December 15, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2276]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             HONORING CHICAGO POLICE OFFICER NIAL FUNCHION

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DANIEL LIPINSKI

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 15, 2011

  Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Officer Nial 
Funchion of the Chicago Police Department for his swim across the 
Strait of Gibraltar on October 6, 2011, and for his support of the 
Brotherhood for the Fallen, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to 
supporting the families of fallen police officers.
  Officer Nial Funchion is an 18-year veteran of the Chicago police 
force and a trusted public servant. He first became involved in the 
Brotherhood of the Fallen following a funeral for a colleague killed in 
the line of duty. At that funeral, he noticed a group of uniformed 
police officers offering condolences to the family of the slain police 
officer. He was deeply moved by this kind gesture and contacted the 
Brotherhood for the Fallen to see how he could help.
  Already a tremendous swimmer, Officer Funchion has since dedicated 
his swimming endeavors to the Brotherhood for the Fallen to raise 
public awareness for the organization. His most recent swim dedicated 
to the Brotherhood was perhaps his most impressive. He crossed the 12 
miles separating Spain and Morocco, known as the Strait of Gibraltar, 
in three hours and fifty minutes. Not only did Officer Funchion brave 
rough waters to complete his swim, but he did so while being followed 
by a family of orca whales.
  Officer Funchion plans to add to his swimming accomplishments by 
completing endurance swimming's Triple Crown. Over the next two years 
he intends to complete the 28.5 mile loop around Manhattan Island and 
the 21 mile swim across the Catalina Channel in southern California. He 
previously crossed the English Channel in 1992 with the fastest time by 
an American that year. I applaud Officer Funchion for protecting our 
community, performing amazing feats to help others, and supporting the 
Brotherhood for the Fallen, and I wish him safety and calm waters in 
his coming endeavors.

                          ____________________