Fallen Heroes Flag Act of 2015
Floor Speech
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Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join with my colleague across the aisle, Congressman Nugent, in support of H.R. 723, the Fallen Heroes Flag Act.
This sensible bill provides for Capitol-flown flags in memory of firefighters, police, and emergency response personnel who are tragically killed in the line of duty.
While we can never fully convey our gratitude to public safety and emergency personnel who risk their lives practically every day, it is my hope that this small gesture brings some level of comfort to the families of those who have given the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.
We recognize their sacrifice and that of their families and loved ones. We are eternally grateful. As Members of Congress, we often have the sad duty and solemn responsibility of expressing condolences to families who have lost a loved one in the line of duty. At no expense to these families, this is one small way to express our condolences and gratitude for their service.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support H.R. 723, and I reserve the balance of my time.
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BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I just want to say how proud I am to stand with Mr. Nugent as well as with my fellow Notre Dame alumnus, Mr. King, in backing this very sensible and decent piece of legislation. I would also say, as he was mentioning the unfortunate tragedies that have happened to members of the NYPD, as a proud resident of the city of Philadelphia, I have only been a Member of Congress for a few months, but I have been in elective office for 6 years, and during that time we, unfortunately, lost more Philadelphia police officers killed in the line of duty, as well as three Philadelphia firefighters killed in the line of duty. That was more than in any 5- or 6-year period in the city's history, which dates to 100 years before the founding of our country.
So it is a sad and solemn reminder of the sacrifice that they are willing to make on our behalf each and every day.
I believe that supporting this legislation is a proper gesture that we can make here in this House, and I am happy to support it. With that, Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
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