[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 66 (Thursday, April 18, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E477-E478]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    COMMEMORATING 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE COLUMBINE SCHOOL SHOOTING

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. DIANA DeGETTE

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 18, 2019

  Ms. DeGETTE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the victims of the 
tragic shooting that took place at Columbine High School in Littleton, 
Colorado on April 20, 1999.
  Saturday marks 20 years since that horrific April day when two armed 
students walked on to campus and opened fire, killing 12 of their 
fellow classmates and one teacher, and wounding another 20 more.

[[Page E478]]

  The images we saw that day will live with us forever. And for those 
who were at the school that day when these horrific events unfolded, or 
who lost loved ones as a result, the pain and sadness they feel today 
is just as real as it was 20 years ago.
  As time goes on, the memories of those we lost that day will never be 
forgotten. They were sons and daughters, sisters and brothers, friends 
and loved ones.
  Each with their own story to tell. Each with their own goals and 
ambitions. And each with their own group of loved ones who still miss 
them terribly.
  Cassie Bernall, who was 17 years old, was a dedicated member of her 
church youth group and wanted to eventually be a doctor.
  Steven Curnow, at age 14, was a talented soccer player and avid Star 
Wars fan who had hoped to one day pilot an F-16 fighter jet.
  Corey DePooter, age 17, loved fishing, and was working at a local 
golf course to earn enough money to one day buy his own boat.
  Kelly Fleming, age 16, was a skilled writer who loved to read and 
dreamed of one day recording her own stories for others to read.
  Matthew Kechter, age 16, was a straight-A student, who was on his way 
to becoming a starting linemen on the school's football team.
  Daniel Mauser, age 15, was also a straight-A student and a valued 
member of the school's cross-country and debate teams.
  Danny Rohrbough, age 15, would save all the money he earned working 
at his family's business to buy Christmas presents for his loved ones 
at the end of the year.
  William ``Dave'' Sanders, age 47, was a beloved teacher and coach, 
who sacrificed his own safety that day to help more than 100 students 
flee to safety.
  Rachel Scott, age 17, was an inspiring writer and actress who had 
written her diary before the attack about the importance of reaching 
out to those who are being picked on by others.
  Isaiah Shoels, age 18, was a budding keyboardist who had dreamed of 
following in his father's footsteps by becoming a record producer.
  John Tomlin, age 16, loved spending time with his church youth group, 
and planned on serving in our nation's armed forces after graduation.
  Lauren Townsend, age 18, loved animals, and when she wasn't leading 
the girls varsity volleyball team, you could find her working after 
school at the local animal shelter.
  Kyle Velasquez, age 16, loved ice cream and always wore a big smile. 
He, too, had hoped to enlist in the military one day, just like his 
father.
  The shooting that took place at Columbine 20 years ago this weekend 
was, at the time, the deadliest high-school mass shooting in our 
nation's history; and it would likely have been much worse had it not 
been for the bravery shown by all those who responded to the scene that 
day.
  The selflessness and courage many of our first responders exhibited 
that day, in the face of such grave danger, saved countless lives. And, 
while it may have been 20 years ago, we are still extremely grateful 
for their efforts.
  We're also thankful for all those who helped our community come 
together in the wake of a tragedy.
  People like Columbine's principal, Frank DeAngelis, whose outstanding 
leadership helped students, teachers and parents, alike, overcome a 
tragedy.
  I'll never forget watching Frank lead hundreds of students back to 
campus for the first time, just four months after the shooting. They 
were all wearing t-shirts with the words ``We are Columbine'' written 
across the front.
  We. Are. Columbine. It was just three little words--but the message 
it sent was as powerful as any I've ever seen.
  Sadly, in the 20 years since the tragic events that unfolded at 
Columbine that day, we have seen similar tragedies play out again and 
again across this country.
  We can and must do more to protect our communities from the threat of 
gun violence.
  As hundreds of friends and neighbors come together in Columbine on 
Saturday to honor those who were lost as a result of this tragedy, I 
hope we, as a nation, can also come together and recommit ourselves to 
enacting the commonsense solutions that we all know are needed to 
better protect the ones we love.
  Because, as those students said 20 years ago: We are Columbine. We 
are all Columbine.
  And we all have a responsibility to act to ensure that another tragic 
shooting--such as the one we saw at Columbine--never happens again.

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