[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 15]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 21158]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



            HONORING MR. JOSEPH ROBERTO OF MIDLAND PARK, NJ

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MARGE ROUKEMA

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 30, 2001

  Mrs. ROUKEMA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart to honor 
the life of Joseph Roberto of Midland Park, NJ. On September 11, Joseph 
was killed while conducting the nation's economic business in the World 
Trade Center. As a dedicated family man, intelligent financial analyst, 
and true American patriot, Joseph Roberto lived his life with a 
passion. And although he may have been taken early from this life, his 
children will grow up knowing that their father was a hero to his 
family, and now a hero to his country.
  That Tuesday, Joseph went to work for Keefe, Bruyette and Woods like 
always. As a vice president and research analyst, he worked hard to 
provide for his family and create a good life in Midland Park. Like so 
many Americans that morning, Joseph was dutifully doing his job, 
however what happened next changed our nation.
  Thousands were killed that day, with thousands of stories left to be 
told by their families. The void these individuals have left in their 
communities is vast. Words and medals cannot make up for their absence. 
But in their deaths, the victims of the World Trade Center attack have 
come to symbolize all that we love in America. The terrorists attacked 
these towers because they represented America's democracy, economic 
prosperity, diversity, and freedom. Joseph embodied these ideals in his 
work and his life, and for that reason, he was a target of these 
terrorist attacks.
  We may not know the details of Joseph's final moments, but we know 
what his death has done for our country. From this tragedy, a 
tremendous pride in our country has emerged. We are stronger, more 
determined, and more united. Signs in New York City storefronts read: 
``I LOVE NEW YORK MORE THAN EVER.'' American flags hang in windows, 
doorways, fences, and wherever space can be found. A tremendous 
outpouring of charity donations and blood donations has swept across 
the Nation. Franklin Delano Roosevelt called this ``the warm courage of 
national unity.'' With this American courage and unity, we will win our 
war against the men who terrorized our Nation and stole these lives. We 
are a nation united, now more than ever. And for this we are 
tremendously grateful to Joseph Roberto. For a man who loved his 
country, his death brought his country closer together.
  Joseph has the admiration and thanks of an entire Nation. His family 
can be assured that this Nation will never forget the atrocities of 
September 11 or the values Joseph died for. Our country has come 
together. And we now come together to tell Joseph's family they are not 
alone. America stands with them--now in their hour of grief, and in the 
days and years to come.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me, the Bergen County 
community, and our country in honoring Joseph Roberto for his 
achievements in life and the legacy he leaves. As his children grow in 
our unified country, we will tell them about their father, an American 
hero.

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