[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 17]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 24565]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[[Page 24565]]

                        TRIBUTE TO DEBORAH ERVIN

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOHN SHIMKUS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 6, 2001

  Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Deborah 
Ervin of Edinburg, Illinois, and her effort to honor all those who gave 
their lives for the United States of America.
  Ms. Ervin is a woman with a cause. Like so many brave young 
Americans, her brother in law was killed while serving his country in 
the Vietnam war. Sometime after this tragic event, Deborah decided to 
fly a flag in his honor--only to find that no flag specifically 
honoring those who died in combat existed. Not to be deterred, Ms. 
Ervin decided that if such a flag did not exist, that she would just 
have to create it.
  It was a long process, but I was lucky enough to be presented with 
the results: a beautiful flag meant to honor all those men and women 
who have died for their country. The flag portrays an American eagle in 
flight to represent the strength and freedom of America; above the 
eagle is a blue cross that is meant to represent the sacrifice of those 
who have died. Both the eagle and cross are within the outline of a 
solemn tombstone, with a background of red and white stripes.
  Ms. Ervin wished me to fly the flag in honor of her brother, and I 
have honored her request--it now stands proudly outside of my office. 
In addition, she also wished us to forward a second flag on to Mayor 
Giuliani in New York. This we have done in honor of the brave 
policemen, firefighters, men, women and children who lost their lives 
to terrorism on September 11th.
  Mr, Speaker, in creating this flag Ms. Ervin has done us all a great 
service. Recent events have served to remind us that we can remain free 
only because our people are willing to defend that freedom, and this 
flag is a fitting tribute to them. Ms. Ervin deserves our thanks, not 
only for creating such a heartwarming symbol, but also for her 
patriotism and devotion to her country. May God bless her, and may God 
bless the United States of America.

                          ____________________