[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 12]
[House]
[Page 17095]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1345
                 A TRIBUTE TO CHARLESTON'S FIREFIGHTERS

  (Mr. HOYER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I want to pay my respects, and I know the 
respects of all others in this House, to the nine Charleston, South 
Carolina, firefighters who lost their lives this week while fearlessly 
and courageously discharging their duties, and offer my condolences to 
the families and friends who lost loved ones in this great tragedy: 
Captain Billy Hutchinson, Captain Mike Benke, Captain Louis Mulkey, 
engineer Mark Kelsey, assistant engineer Brad Beaity, assistant 
engineer Michael French, firefighter James Drayton, firefighter Brandon 
Thomas and firefighter Melven Champaign. They made a commitment to one 
of our Nation's highest callings, a calling to service in the face of 
great danger, and a call to honor a tradition of heroes.
  These fallen firefighters, Mr. Speaker, represented more than 100 
years of service to the people they swore an oath to protect. And the 
dedication with which they lived their lives is something our Nation 
will not soon forget.
  John Kennedy once said: ``The courage of life is often a less 
dramatic spectacle than the courage of a final moment, but it is no 
less a magnificent mixture of triumph and tragedy. A man does what he 
must, in spite of personal consequences, in spite of obstacles and 
dangers and pressures, and that is the basis of all morality,'' Kennedy 
concluded.
  In their final moment, Mr. Speaker, these nine men taught us what 
true morality is really all about, a love and heartfelt concern for 
one's neighbors that provides the strength to rush into the breach 
while others are rushing from it, and a sense of responsibility that 
will not allow a man to stand idly at times when his help is most 
needed.
  Today, Mr. Speaker, the thoughts and prayers of a grateful Nation are 
with the families and friends of these nine courageous men, 
firefighters, heroes. May their legacy of valor, gallantry, and service 
be something that lives on in our country forever.

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