[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 4]
[Senate]
[Page 4676]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                               ERMA BYRD

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, yesterday afternoon my wife Marcelle and I 
went and said our final farewells to our Erma Byrd, the wife of our 
distinguished colleague and friend, Senator Robert Byrd of West 
Virginia. Marcelle and I have been privileged to know both Senator and 
Mrs. Byrd for well over 30 years.
  While there, we talked with the distinguished senior citizen from 
West Virginia and told him how much that relationship meant, but 
especially how much it meant to us to see a love affair such as theirs, 
one that continued from the time they were teenagers to the time of 
Mrs. Byrd's death.
  Mrs. Byrd and my wife used to sometimes drive down together for 
Senate spouse meetings. Every time Marcelle would come back, she would 
tell me something new and valuable she had learned from Erma and how 
much that friendship meant.
  In recent times, when illness stopped her ability to come here, I 
would talk with my good friend Robert Byrd and ask him how Erma was 
doing and to tell him that both she and Robert were in our prayers and 
our thoughts. Many of us will be at the funeral this weekend out of 
respect for both of them. I will be thinking of the privilege it has 
been to have known them both and how privileged I am to still have as a 
dear friend and colleague Senator Robert C. Byrd.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

                          ____________________