[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 2]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 1587]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            HONORING MAINE WARDEN GREGORY ``GREGG'' SANBORN

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. CHELLIE PINGREE

                                of maine

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, February 15, 2013

  Ms. PINGREE of Maine. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a moment to 
remember an exemplary individual and member of the Maine Warden Service 
whom we lost much too early in life.
  Raised in Fryeburg, Major Gregory ``Gregg'' Sanborn rose through the 
ranks over 20 years to become second in command of the Maine Warden 
Service. For those who don't know, wearing the badge of a Maine Game 
Warden has to be one of the toughest jobs in the world. These highly 
trained law enforcement officers are responsible for patrolling miles 
of remote lands with little or no back up. A day on the job could 
require anything from braving extreme elements and rugged territory in 
search of lost hikers to catching and arresting well-armed poachers. 
Whether we hike, hunt or fish in the Maine woods, we all owe them a 
debt of gratitude for working so hard to protect our natural resources 
and keep us safe.
  Being a Maine Game Warden was Sanborn's dream job and, throughout his 
career, he proved exemplary at it. As his colleagues eulogized at his 
memorial service, he earned the respect of all he came in contact with. 
On search-and-rescue missions, he wouldn't go home until the party was 
found. He would drive through the middle of the night and across the 
state to aid a fellow warden.
  And few--if any--could break the law with him on the job. He issued 
more summons and warnings than any warden before him. Yet his fairness, 
calm demeanor and evenhandedness earned him the respect even of those 
he penalized. In his career, no one ever filed a complaint against him.
  Sanborn also proved to be an effective leader and administrator. As 
Major, he strengthened the Maine Warden Service in the face of budget 
cuts while tightening recruiting standards to ensure that only the most 
qualified and passionate men and women were hired.
  It goes without saying that Sanborn fought cancer bravely and 
honorably. As he said shortly before his death, ``I lost, but I did not 
quit.''
  The loss is ours and his death at the age of 47 is tragic. Few 
Mainers will ever be missed by more. Over a thousand people attended 
his memorial service, and over a thousand people participated in a 
stem-cell drive in hopes of finding a match for his transplant.
  I have no doubt the Maine Warden Service will carry on Sanborn's 
spirit and continue to do our state proud. But he was indeed a very 
special person whose loss will be felt for a long, long time. My 
thoughts go out to his wife and son, his family, and his brothers and 
sisters in the Maine Warden Service. I am truly grateful that our state 
had the privilege of benefiting from such a capable, committed, and 
good-hearted public servant.

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