[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 9] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page 11897] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]HONORING THE LIFE AND SERVICE OF BRIAN EMERICK ______ HON. VIRGINIA FOXX of north carolina in the house of representatives Monday, June 9, 2008 Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, one of my constituents Brian Emerick, paid me a visit last year to relate the story of his fight against ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease. He left me with these words, ``Future generations must not face this disease with no known cause or cure. For the Emerick family, the challenge to strike out Lou Gehrig's disease comes with the highest imaginable significance--to honor the lives of past generations who died of the disease like my father, to improve the well-being of individuals currently living with the disease like myself, and to protect the health of future generations, like my children.'' On Easter Sunday of this year, Brian finished his courageous battle with ALS with the same dignity with which he lived his entire life. It is his life that we are here to honor and his commitment to finding a cure for this disease that we are here to remember and pursue. Brian's story represents great hope that helps move us toward action to defeat ALS. Brian's life was not and can not be defined solely by his courageous fight against ALS, because he lived a full life that touched many before and after his diagnoses. Brian worked his way through school and college and later flew helicopters in the U.S. Army. He then went on to become a respected worker and leader at Rock-Tenn Paper Corporation. Brian had a well-known work ethic and never missed a day of work because of sickness. He continued working after his diagnosis and even when he visited the ALS clinic at Baptist Hospital he would tell doctors, ``I really don't get sick, I'm actually as healthy as anyone could be if it weren't for this disease that keeps slowing me down.'' The man who was a loving husband was also an amazing father. The man who was a tireless worker was also loved and honored in his work, his community and his church. And finally, that man who did all of those wonderful things, was also the man who fought ALS with courage for the past 3 years. Brian, who never liked to take so much as a Tylenol, eventually took 27 pills a day and participated in five different clinical drug studies to help fight that deadly disease. Brian, who tried never to ask people for help unless he absolutely needed it, raised more than $25,000 in the last 2 years on ALS walks with his family and friends. Brian, who had never before been in a congressional meeting, tirelessly walked the halls of Congress to advocate on behalf of those suffering with this deadly disease. Brian ended his remarkable life journey and began a final journey when he finished his battle with ALS on Easter Sunday of this year. But Brian would have reminded us today that the battle to defeat ALS is still ongoing. Brian's life story reminds us what it means to live each day with love and in pursuit of ideals that truly matter. We honor Brian's life by facing the challenge to defeat ALS, with honesty and commitment to action that improves the lives of others. ____________________