[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 15]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 20870]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                   TRIBUTE TO CAPTAIN HARRY THOMPSON

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOSE E. SERRANO

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, October 29, 2001

  Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Captain 
Harry Thompson, a national hero who gave his life to save many others 
during the September 11 attack on the World Trade Center.
  Captain Thompson, a long-time court officer, was a resident of 
Parkchester in the Bronx for over 30 years. ``Selfless'' is usually the 
first word to come to the lips of those neighbors and coworkers asked 
to describe Captain Thompson. They were saddened, but not surprised, to 
learn that his gallantry and dedication to helping others led him to 
save the lives of 150 people on that fateful morning in September.
  We are all aware that on that morning, heroes abounded and many came 
from unlikely sources. Mr. Speaker, anyone who knew Captain Thompson 
considered him the most likely source of heroism. His youngest son, 
Raahsaan, explained that when he heard of the tragedy, he just assumed 
that his father was there ``helping out.'' He took for granted that his 
father was there guiding others to safety while putting himself in 
harm's way. Captain Thompson was not a fireman or a police officer, yet 
he felt a call to duty not unlike those brave men and women and he went 
into a building that people were desperately trying to escape simply 
because he knew that he could help.
  Captain Thompson's two sons say that their father took great pride in 
the fact that he had climbed the ranks to make Captain, a position that 
made him responsible for training court officers. Captain Thompson 
ingrained the value and necessity of hard work into his two sons who 
both went on to obtain college degrees and pursue successful careers. 
Both sons recall their father constantly helping people out, whether it 
was physically supporting an elderly or debilitated person in some task 
or running an errand for a busy neighbor. I want Raahsaan and Michael 
Thompson to know that we realize that their father did not come home 
that day so that 150 other fathers, mothers, daughters, sons, sisters, 
and brothers could.
  Mr. Speaker, we lost so many in such a short time on the morning of 
September 11, it would be difficult for Congress to mourn and honor 
each individual life. However, I must ask my colleagues to join me in 
honoring the life of Captain Thompson, he sacrificed his life in order 
to save others, not because it was his job, but because it was his 
nature.

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