[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 17030]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                COMMENDING RESCUE WORKERS AND VOLUNTEERS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOHN SHIMKUS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 13, 2001

  Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend the numerous rescue 
workers and volunteers around the country in their recovery efforts 
during this terrible tragedy. These brave and heroic citizens are 
working around the clock to bring calm and restore peace into our 
beloved nation. Again I wish to convey my thanks and prayers to these 
courageous rescue workers, their families, and everyone affected by 
this horrific chain of events; including Captain Jack Punches, Jr., 
whose mother resides in Ramsey in Fayette County. A retired Navy 
captain, he had worked in military intelligence and was at his desk at 
the Pentagon when the atrocious events of Tuesday occurred. He had a 
long and distinguished military career, holding command positions 
during the Persian Gulf War while logging more than 7,000 flight hours 
as a pilot of a P-3 submarine hunter aircraft. Captain Punches is 
survived by his wife Janice, his daughter Jennifer, and his son Jeremy.
  I ask again, may God bless these rescue workers, may God bless the 
victims and their families, and may God bless our country.

                          ____________________