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“IN REMEMBRANCE OF APHIS EMPLOYEES” mentioning the U.S. Dept of Agriculture was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E583 on April 19, 1996.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
IN REMEMBRANCE OF APHIS EMPLOYEES
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HON. E de la GARZA
of texas
in the house of representatives
Thursday, April 18, 1996
Mr. de la GARZA. Mr. Speaker, 1 year ago, on April 19, 1995, 168 people were murdered in the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. The explosion killed scores of innocent children and adults, injured hundreds, and devastated thousands of lives. We remember and honor them all.
I took part in a ceremony in South Texas in which the Kika de la Garza Elementary School in the La Joya school district planted a tree in memory of the children who died in the Oklahoma bombing to link themselves to the loss. I was particularly moved by this ceremony because although they did not know any of the children personally, they had a common bond in that they were children also.
I, too, have a common bond with some of the victims. In this case the bond is the agricultural community.
Among the victims were seven employees of the Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service--dedicated workers who left a legacy of service and believed that protecting American agriculture was a goal worth achieving.
These were people who were loved by their families and friends and respected by their colleagues. Today, we especially remember and honor these APHIS employees.
We honor as well the survivors and the many people who gave of themselves to aid in rescue efforts and reach out with helping hands and loving hearts. In their hope, we found hope: in their strength, we found strength; in their actions, we found the power to act. In adversity, America came together.
Robert Green Ingersoll said ``in the night of death hope sees a star and listening love can hear the rustle of a wing.'' We remember those who lost their lives in Oklahoma. We embrace those who were left behind, and we hope our caring helps soothe their grief.
Together, we all listen for the rustle of a wing that whispers of hope.
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