[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 164 (Thursday, October 12, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1368]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              TRIBUTE TO VICTIMS OF THE LAS VEGAS MASSACRE

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. KEN CALVERT

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 12, 2017

  Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to 
residents of California's 42nd Congressional District who were 
tragically killed during the massacre at the Route 91 Harvest country 
music festival in Las Vegas, Nevada on Sunday, October 1, 2017.
  Thomas Day, Jr. was born and raised in my hometown of Corona, 
California. After graduating from Corona High School, Tom attended 
Riverside Community College and later went to work for Portrait 
Construction, a home building company founded by his father, Tom Sr. 
Those who worked with Tom knew him as someone who was easy to talk to 
and get along with. The Day family has been active in our community for 
many years, making a number of important contributions to non-profit 
organizations. Attending concerts and music festivals with his children 
was a win-win for Tom because it allowed him to do two things he loved 
at one time--listen to music and spend time with his family. Tom was 
attending the Route 91 Harvest country music festival with his children 
when he was senselessly taken from us.
  Rocio Guillen grew up in Anaheim, California and attended Katella 
High School, where she ran track and cross country. Most recently, she 
worked as an assistant manager at a California Pizza Kitchen. Rocio was 
a tireless worker both at her job and at home caring for her children. 
She was blessed with four children: 18-year-old Marcus, 13-year-old 
Christopher, 1-year-old Sofia and 1-month-old Austin. Marcus recently 
described Rocio as ``an amazing mother. She worked so many hours at 
work and would come back and take care of all of us.'' Rocio's fiance, 
Chris Jaksha, attended the Route 91 Harvest country music festival with 
her and comforted her in those terrifying final moments of her life.
  Pati Mestas lived in Menifee, California and was a graduate of Garey 
High in Pomona. While she previously helped manage the deli at a Corona 
gas station, Pati recently stopped working to spend more time with her 
three children, eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Pati 
loved going to country music concerts and having a good time with her 
friends. Her son Brandon wrote, ``She left this world surrounded by 
friends, singing and dancing with thousands of people. If I had to 
write the script myself, I could not have done a better job.''
  Christopher Roybal proudly served his country in the U.S. Navy as a 
dog handler, completing multiple tours in Afghanistan. After leaving 
the Navy, Chris returned home to Corona, California, and managed Crunch 
Fitness gyms. According to family and friends, Chris loved to sing and 
enjoyed all genres of music--they say he was a karaoke king. Chris is 
survived by his wife Dixie Roybal, his mother Debby Allen, father 
Samuel Roybal brothers Jacob, Jayson and Nicholas, and sisters Nina and 
Jillian. We are eternally grateful for Chris' service to our nation.
  Our hearts ache for all of those whose lives were cut short and 
forever impacted by the evil acts of that evening. We pray that their 
loved ones, colleagues and friends find comfort in the memories shared 
with those we have lost. We also pray for the speedy recovery of all of 
the wounded. As a country we must stand together in the wake of this 
horrific event and demonstrate that the love, decency and compassion 
inside all of us is far stronger than any evil act.

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