E 1124 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks May 25, 1995

IN MEMORY OF WILLIAM ROBERTSON, MILWAUKEE POLICE OFFICER SLAIN IN 1994

HON. THOMAS M. BARRETT OF WISCONSIN

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, May 24, 1995

Mr. BARRETT of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker,

the somber memorial held last week on the

Capitol Mall in Washington, DC, honoring the

157 police and Federal agents killed in the line

of duty in 1994 included an excellent police officer who worked and lived in my community.

In the early morning hours of Wednesday,

September 7, 1994, Officer William Robertson,

age 31, was shot and fatally wounded by a

sniper while on patrol with his partner. An unknown assailant, without any provocation or

confrontation, murdered a dedicated Milwaukee Police officer and in the process shattered

the lives of many people.

William Robertson joined the Milwaukee Police Department in September 1993 after 6

years of exemplary service with the Whitefish

Bay Police Department. Mr. Robertson received three commendations for outstanding

service while serving the citizens of Whitefish

Bay, including one for removing an unconscious driver from a burning car after an accident. He was respected by his peers and received much praise from his supervisors for

his willingness to learn and to teach others.

William Robertson’s ultimate career goal

was to be in a classroom teaching recruits at

the Milwaukee Police Academy. Helping others, especially disadvantaged children, was a

way of life for Mr. Robertson. He volunteered

much of his time helping the Special Olympics, including raising funds for the charity. He

was a key organizer of the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Torch Run, a statewide relay race

that benefits the Special Olympics.

Less than eight weeks after his untimely

death, Mary Robertson, his widow, gave birth

to healthy twins. A son named William Arthur

and a daughter named Kayla Mary were born

into the world oblivious to the perils that had

taken their father’s life.

As Americans pause to honor the 157 fallen

law enforcement officials, I especially salute

the service of Milwaukee Police Officer William

Robertson and offer my sincere condolences

to his family and friends. I am grateful for all

the police officers who, like Officer Robertson,

risk their lives everyday to make Milwaukee a

safe place to live.

TRIBUTE TO THE LAKE BRADDOCK

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL SYMfPHONIC BAND

HON. THOMAS M. DAVIS OF VIRGINIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, May 24, 1995

Mr. DAVIS. Mr. Speaker, it gives me great

pleasure to rise today and pay tribute to the

Lake Braddock Senior High School Symphonic

Band of Burke, Virginia has been selected for

1995 as a recipient of the Sousa Foundation’s

Sudler ‘‘Flag of Honor’’, the highest recognition of excellence in concert performance that

can come to a High School band. During the

13 years the award has been in existence,

only 31 bands from the entire United States

Japan and Canada have been selected for the

Flag of Honor award. They will be presented

this award on Thursday, May 25, 1995 in the

Lake Braddock High School Auditorium by

Colonel Bryan Shelbourne, Leader of the United States Army Band and member of the

Sudler Flag Selection Jury.

To be eligible for nomination for the Sudler

Flag a high school band must have maintained an outstanding concert band over a period of seven or more years. Although the

band’s concern activities receive the most attention in the selection process the band program in the school must be a complete one

and include a marching band, small ensembles, and solo participation by its members in

contest-festival opportunities.

The band director must have been the conductor of the band for seven or more consecutive years including the year of the award and

is expected to have been involved in professional band and music education organizations and activities at the local, state, and national level.

Mr. Speaker, I know my colleagues join me

in honoring this fine symphonic band and its

conductor Mr. Roy C. Holder for their outstanding achievement.

TRIBUTE TO JIM HENRY

fHON. JAMES M. TALENT OF MISSOURI

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, May 24, 1995

Mr. TALENT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to

offer my congratulations to Jim Henry, a constituent of mine who was recently awarded the

Small Business Administration’s ‘‘1995 Small

Business Person of the Year’’ award for the

State of Missouri.

Ten years ago Mr. Henry left his job with

Emerson Electric and bought R.C. Wilson Co.,

a small collection agency in St. Louis, Missouri. At the time Mr. Henry bought R.C. Wilson he had no small business experience or

background, but he did have a can-do philosophy, which has helped him build one of the

most successful collection companies in out

city. Over the past ten years, sales, employment and clientele at R.C. Wilson have grown

significantly. Sales have increased by 200 percent, while employment at R.C. Wilson have

grown from 25 to 118. At the same time, his

company’s collection success rate is over 30

percent—higher than the 22 percent average

for the industry.

Mr. Henry explains his success this way:

‘‘The way a business owner treats employees

makes or breaks a business. The key to longterm success is to treat your employees with

dignity and always maintain the highest level

of integrity and honesty in all dealings.’’ This

attitude is reflected in the companies employee benefit policies. R.C. Wilson Co. has a

generous tuition reimbursement program

which enables many employees to continue

their education through post-graduate levels.

The company also provides an annual scholarship for Missouri Business Week to the child

of one employee. The company also shares

profits with its employees.

Mr. Speaker, I want to close by again offering Mr. Henry my congratulations on being

named the 1995 Missouri Small Business Person of the Year, and to wish him and the employees of R.C. Wilson Co. continued success.

HONORING DISABLED VETERANS

f

HON. ROBERT MENENDEZ

OF NEW JERSEY

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, May 24, 1995

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, on April 2,

1995, the Disabled American Veterans and

Auxiliary, Department of New Jersey, held its

Eighth Annual Legislative Breakfast.

Ms. Linda Trulio, 2d junior vice president of

the auxiliary, wrote the following poem in

honor of all disabled veterans and the mission

of the DAV toward our fallen veterans.

I believe that her words are worthy of my

colleagues consideration and commend them

to you herewith.

SERVING THOSE WHO SERVED

By: Linda A. Trulio

Dedicated to the motto of the disabled

American Veteran, Presented at the New

Jersey Legislative Breakfast April 2, 1995.

We rode the waves together, and sailed the

stormy seas.

We braved the intense jungles and hid

among the trees.

I pulled you from the waters deep and muddy

sinking sands.

I gave you my last cigarette, without question or demand.

When flying high through stormy clouds and

dodging rockets flares,

I looked behind our aircraft and saw you

praying there.

We shared our jokes and memories, and

thought so much of home

We knew that with a buddies arm, we

never were alone.

And when the snipers’ bullets found my leg

and shoulder torn,

I looked to you now for some help, my life

now surely gone.

I made it home alas, all tattered and all

torn,

And wondered what my future held, not

much just pain and scorn.

I felt so useless, just what would I do?

Will they still love me when they see I

have one shoe?

How will I eat; how will I write?

Will I still work with partial sight?

And then I looked up from my bed,

and saw you standing there.

My friend, my pal, your hand on my head,

Your eyes they held a tear.

I’m here my friend; I’m here to help and

never will I stray.

We’ll fight together, I’11 lead you on and

still take time to pray.

I’ll visit you and give you strength in hospitals far and near.

I’ll look in on your family and those you

hold most dear.

And when your rights and benefits are under

threat or endangered,

I’ll fight the fight for you my friend. You’ll

keep what was created.

I’ll be your eyes and write the words. I’ll

lead you step by step.

I’m here to serve, the one who served, the

one I’ll not forget.