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[Pages H4224-H4225]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING VIRGINIA BEACH SHOOTING VICTIMS
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from
Virginia (Mrs. Luria) for 5 minutes.
Mrs. LURIA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today grieving for Virginia Beach, a
great city in our district, where the year's most devastating mass
shooting happened last Friday.
That morning, 12 innocent people left their homes for work, but they
didn't return home to their families, and they never will. Eleven of
them were devoted public servants with more than 150 years of combined
experience, and one was a dedicated contractor. I am honored to
remember them today.
Laquita C. Brown, a right-of-way agent who lived in Chesapeake, was
an avid traveler who chronicled her trips to New York City, Europe, and
West Africa. A friend of hers called her ``Ms. Worldwide.'' Her 40th
birthday was coming up in November.
Ryan Keith Cox, an account clerk who lived in Virginia Beach, had a
golden voice and sang in his church choir. He had recently accepted his
own calling to the ministry to follow in the footsteps of his father, a
friend, Pastor E. Ray Cox, and the pastor of New Hope Baptist Church.
During the shooting, Keith guided colleagues to safety, but did not
join them so he could look out for others.
Tara Welch Gallagher, an engineer who lived in Virginia Beach,
educated the public about clean water and served her city for 6 years.
Tara's survivors include her husband and her 22-month-old son. Her
husband told a reporter: ``She was everything to me.''
Mary Louise Gayle was a right-of-way agent who lived in Virginia
Beach. A proud grandmother, she had just turned 65, and her children
planned to take their mom to Portland later this month to celebrate her
birthday.
Alexander Mikhail Gusev, a right-of-way agent who lived in Virginia
Beach, moved from Belarus to seek a better life in America. He was a
generous and thoughtful person, who was said to grab his lawnmower and
cut his neighbor's lawn without even being asked.
Joshua O. Hardy was an engineering technician who lived in Virginia
Beach. He was a loving uncle, a healthy eater and runner, he smiled on
the job, and found time to write a beloved children's book that spoke
to youth about strangers in their midst.
Michelle ``Missy'' Langer, an administrative assistant who lived in
Virginia Beach, loved the Pittsburgh Steelers, Paul McCartney, and the
ocean. A friend said, ``I will miss her smile and her hugs. That is the
hardest thing.''
Richard H. Nettleton, an engineer who lived in Norfolk, helped
design, install, and maintain Virginia Beach's water and sewer systems.
An Army veteran, he enjoyed mentoring young engineers.
Katherine A. Nixon, an engineer who lived in Virginia Beach, was a
devoted wife and mother to three daughters, one of whom is just 15
months old. According to her neighbor, her final call was to her
husband just moments after she was shot.
Christopher Kelly Rapp, an engineer who lived in Powhatan, played the
bagpipes and loved Scottish music. Compared by some to Mr. Rogers, he
was known as encouraging and enthusiastic.
Herbert ``Bert'' Snelling, a contractor who lived in Virginia Beach
and was visiting the Municipal Center for a permit; he led his church's
security team, and in his work, he did everything from small handyman
repairs to building homes.
Robert ``Bobby'' Williams, a special projects coordinator who lived
in Chesapeake, worked for Virginia Beach for 41 years. He helped build
the seawall in our city and planned on retiring this year to spend more
time with his family.
The losses here will never be replaced, but so many heroes emerged to
prevent further horror.
Over the weekend, I saw heroic first responders--police, fire, and
EMS personnel--who ran into the line of fire to
[[Page H4225]]
save others before comforting our community in the immediate aftermath
of this tragedy.
As the hours and days go by, we hear tens, if not hundreds, of
stories of the heroism of individuals who helped save lives during this
tragic event, including the officer among the first responders who, in
the performance of his duties, took a bullet to protect our community,
and was, by the grace of God, saved by his protective vest.
I saw believable bravery in Sentara Hospital where Sunday, I had the
honor of visiting a survivor of the shooting. She clasped my hand as I
stood at her bedside, and her strength and resolve were palpable as she
had only narrowly come away alive.
I saw love and hope at heartfelt vigils across our community where
people of all faiths joined in prayer to remember those who left us all
too soon.
I saw strength among our city leaders and police chief as they
addressed our grieving community, determined to remember the 12 we lost
far too soon.
____________________
