[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 16]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 23394]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[[Page 23394]]

                          EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS

               TRIBUTE TO JASON HAYES OF MADISON, ALABAMA

                                 ______
                                 

                    HON. ROBERT E. (BUD) CRAMER, JR.

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 18, 2000

  Mr. CRAMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a very brave 
and fortunate young man from Madison, Alabama, Mr. Jason Hayes. Last 
Thursday while in a Yemen port, the U.S.S. Cole was attacked with a 
bomb that blew open a 40 by 40 ft. hole in the midsection of the ship. 
The attack destroyed an engine room and nearby mess hall. Hayes was on 
the mess deck at the time and is currently recovering from cuts, 
bruises, smoke inhalation and a chemical burn on his foot.
  Hayes, a third class petty officer on the Navy destroyer, is a hero. 
The word ``hero'' is not a word to be flippantly uttered--but Hayes and 
the other surviving sailors aboard the U.S.S. Cole that day are heroes. 
Their quick and brave actions saved lives as well as the ship.
  Today, people from all across North Alabama and especially his 
friends in the Madison area are gathering at the Huntsville 
International Airport to welcome their hero and his family home. I 
cannot be there today but I wish I could to join his friends in telling 
Jason how proud we are of him and how thrilled we are that he is home 
safe. Hayes is a 1995 graduate of Bob Jones High School and his 
parents, Jean and Stephen, still live in the Madison community. Our 
community has come together in this crisis after receiving word of 
Jason's injuries and it is right that we gather to celebrate his 
homecoming. Jason and the Hayes family including Jason's wife, Roxanne, 
in Norfolk have been in our prayers.
  What happened last Thursday was an intolerable act of terrorism. 
Across the country, 17 families are having much different and much more 
solemn ceremonies than the Hayes today as they bury their sons and 
daughters who did not survive the attack. My thoughts and prayers are 
with those families today. I urge our federal agents to exhaust all 
conceivable avenues to capture those responsible and bring them to 
justice for this horrific crime.
  On behalf of the Congress of the United States, I want to express my 
gratitude for Jason's bravery and his service. I know today is an 
emotional and special day for the Hayes family and the Madison 
community. I hope that this time is a time for them to relish being 
together and celebrate the bonds of family.

                          ____________________