Senator Hassan Announces Mark Cournoyer of Jaffrey as January “Granite Stater of the Month”

WASHINGTON – Senator Maggie Hassan announced today her “Granite Stater of the Month” for January, Mark Cournoyer, of Jaffrey, who has dedicated himself to making our roads safer by educating drivers – particularly new drivers – about the serious danger and potentially tragic consequences of distracted driving. Senator Hassan launched the “Granite Stater of the Month” initiative last year to recognize outstanding New Hampshire citizens who go above and beyond to help their neighbors and make their community stronger.

Mr. Cournoyer, a former police officer and emergency medical technician in Fitzwilliam and Jaffrey, and now a fourth generation director of the Cournoyer Funeral Home, volunteers his time to helping prevent the kind of accidents that he has responded to for years.

To nominate a New Hampshire citizen to be a “Granite Stater of the Month,” constituents can complete the nomination form here. 

Click here and see below for a statement that Senator Hassan submitted into the Congressional Record recognizing Mark Cournoyer:

Mr. President, it is my pleasure to announce our Granite Stater of the Month for January, Mark Cournoyer, of Jaffrey, New Hampshire. Mark embodies New Hampshire’s all-hands-on-deck spirit, where we work together and do what we can to strengthen our communities. In Mark’s case, he has dedicated himself to making our roads safer by educating drivers – particularly new drivers – about the serious danger and potentially tragic consequences of distracted driving.

A former police officer and emergency medical technician in Fitzwilliam and Jaffrey, and now a fourth generation director of the Cournoyer Funeral Home, Mark volunteers his time to helping prevent the kind of accidents that he has responded to for years. Mark delivers presentations at area driver’s education classes and local schools, sharing statistics behind distracted driving as well as telling real stories about the outcomes of distracted driving with the hope that he can help keep the young people he meets safe.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about nine people are killed and more than 1,000 injured every day in the United States as a result of distracted driving. Anything that takes a driver’s attention off of the road – texting, eating, reading, or looking for objects – can result in a tragic accident. Mark’s efforts are critical to reducing the all-too-common practice of distracted driving, and his dedication to improving public safety can help save lives in his community and across New Hampshire.

In towns and cities across New Hampshire, many of our citizens go above and beyond to look out for one another and make their communities safer. Mark Cournoyer has done just that, volunteering his own time and wisdom to making our roads safer and helping to prevent more accidents from distracted driving. It is an honor to recognize him as our Granite Stater of the Month and join him in raising awareness about this important issue.

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