[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 15]
[House]
[Page 20644]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                          TRIBUTE TO TOM TURK

  (Mr. GIBBONS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, since the terrorist attacks of September 
11, thousands of Americans have volunteered to help New York and 
Washington recover from the devastating attacks and damage that was 
done on that date. Today, I am privileged and honored to come to the 
floor to recognize and commend Mr. Tom Turk of Elko, Nevada, who has 
spent the last 3 weeks at ground zero in New York City.
  As a battalion chief for the Nevada Division of Forestry, Mr. Turk 
had never been east of the Mississippi until he left on September 18 to 
assist FEMA in the aftermath of those terrorist attacks on the World 
Trade Center. Recently, Mr. Turk mentioned what he will remember most 
about his experience in New York, and I think we can all relate to his 
words, which I would like to share, and I quote, ``It has taught me not 
to take this life or the importance of family for granted. It has also 
taught me despite all this destruction and evil, that people, the 
public, the emergency workers, the residents of New York City and the 
people across this country are good to the core as a whole.''
  As America continues to brave this dark chapter of history, let us 
find strength in Mr. Turk's words; the good will and spirit of America 
will always survive.

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