[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 18 (Wednesday, February 27, 2002)]
[House]
[Page H567]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    OFFER OF PRAYERS FOR MARTIN AND GRACIA BURNHAM AND OUR MILITARY 
        PERSONNEL WHO ARE CASUALTIES IN GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM

  (Mr. TIAHRT asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. TIAHRT. Mr. Speaker, today marks the 277th day that Martin and 
Gracia Burnham have been held captive by Muslim terrorists in the 
Philippines.
  Last Thursday, 10 American servicemen lost their lives in a 
helicopter crash while conducting a bilateral training exercise with 
the Philippine Defense Forces.
  From the Army's E company, 160th Special Operations Aviation 
Regiment, Airborne, we mourn Major Curtis D. Feistner, Captain Bartt D. 
Owens, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jody L. Egnor, Staff Sergeant James P. 
Dorrity, Staff Sergeant Kerry W. Frith, Staff Sergeant Bruce A. 
Rushforth, Jr., Sergeant Jeremy D. Foshee, Specialist Thomas F. 
Allison.
  From the 320th Special Tactics Squadron, we mourn Master Sergeant 
William L. McDaniel, II and Staff Sergeant Juan M. Ridout.
  I am extremely grateful for their service to our Nation. I send 
heartfelt prayers to their families, friends, and fellow soldiers for 
their loss. Their honor, courage, selflessness, and patriotism cannot 
be overstated.
  These fine men were casualties in our global war on terrorism. The 
U.S. military's presence in the Philippines is assisting the Philippine 
government in their own national war on terrorism with the Abu Sayyaf. 
It is hoped that the Army's presence there may additionally help in the 
freedom of Martin and Gracia Burnham from their nightmare.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in praying for these men and their 
families. Let us continue to make our Nation a shining beacon of 
freedom so their deaths were not in vain. Also, let us pray for Martin 
and Gracia, that they are safely released, so the Burnham family does 
not suffer the same heartache as these servicemen's families.

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