[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 9]
[House]
[Pages 12039-12040]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              HONORING POLICE LIEUTENANT GREGORY BENNERSON

  (Mrs. CHRISTENSEN asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker and colleagues, as I rise this morning, 
my Virgin Islands community is paying a fond but sad farewell to a 
favorite son of St. Croix, Police Lieutenant Gregory Bennerson.

[[Page 12040]]

  Just to speak of his years as a policeman and rise to the position of 
commander of criminal investigations does not do full justice to his 
life and contributions. He dedicated much of his free time to youth and 
involved himself in many activities that uplifted and guided them to be 
the best they could be.
  Greg served as a senator in the 23rd Legislature of the Virgin 
Islands. He was well on his way to being elected once again, because 
our community values and needed his consistency, his diligence, his 
commitment to truth, to values, and to all of the people of the Virgin 
Islands.
  Greg was a devoted son, father, and solid, caring, selfless friend. 
It was out of this that his humanity became manifest and extended to 
everything else he did. We are all saddened by his loss, which touches 
my family and I personally.
  Although we grieve, we should take heart that knowing Greg won an 
even more important election. He now looks over and advocates for us in 
a far better and all-powerful place. May he rest in peace.
  Mr. Speaker and colleagues, my Virgin Islands community is saying a 
fond but sad farewell to a favorite and favored son of St. Croix, 
Lieutenant Gregory Bennerson of the Virgin Islands Police Department.
  As excellently as he has served the Department--just to speak of--his 
years of service as a policeman and his rise through the ranks to the 
position of Commander of Criminal Investigations does not do full 
justice to his life and contributions.
  A young man himself, he dedicated much of his free time to youth and 
worked with boys and girls clubs, was a PTA president and led the pre-
cadet and Police Athletic League, but also involved himself in many 
other activities that uplifted our youth and guided them to be the best 
they could be.
  He also gave his time and support to domestic violence prevention and 
the Women's Coalition, as well as to improving health services at the 
Governor Juan F. Luis Hospital. Greg loved St. Croix and was its 
dedicated advocate and devoted servant.
  First a Republican following in the footsteps of his much revered 
dad, he became a Democrat and served his adopted party with commitment 
and passion. Greg served as a senator in the 23rd Legislature of the 
Virgin Islands and at the time of his passing he was well on his way to 
being elected once again. Our community valued and needed his 
consistency, his diligence, his commitment to truth, to values, to 
right, and to all of the people of the Virgin Islands.
  Though a big tease, with a subtle sense of humor, more than anything 
else he was a devoted son, father, and solid, caring, and selfless 
friend. It was out of this that his humanity became manifest and 
extended to everything else he did.
  We are all saddened by his loss, which touches my family and me 
personally.
  As I said in tribute at a gathering at home, although we grieve, we 
should take heart knowing that Greg won an even more important 
election. He now looks over and advocates for us in a far better and 
all powerful place.
  May he rest in peace.

                          ____________________