[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 24 (Thursday, March 7, 2002)]
[House]
[Page H770]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING OZARKS SOLDIERS
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the
gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Blunt) is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. BLUNT. Mr. Speaker, in the last few days, beginning on Saturday,
two individuals from my congressional district gave their lives in
Afghanistan: one, a 34-year-old warrant officer in Special Forces;
another, a 31-year-old sergeant, both of whom had clearly dedicated
their lives and, in so many ways, dedicated their own families to
protecting our freedoms and protecting our country.
As I was thinking about what I wanted to say today about them on the
House floor, I read an editorial from a Springfield, Missouri,
newspaper yesterday; and I think I would like to just enter that
editorial in the Record and share it today as we think about the fact
that we honor these men and women and the others who are putting their
lives in harm's way for us.
Let me share that material with the Speaker and the Members here and
then enter it fully in the Record. The editorial starts out: ``From the
beginning of the war in Afghanistan, President Bush has warned
Americans to be prepared for casualties. Now we have them, and the pain
of this war has been felt in the Ozarks. It has taken two of our
neighbors: Chief Warrant Officer Stanley Harriman. Sergeant Philip J.
Svitak.
{time} 1300
``Harriman, a Strafford High School graduate, was the first American
to die in the ground offensive on al Qaeda and Taliban strongholds in
eastern Afghanistan. Svitak, of Joplin, was among the seven soldiers
killed in incidents involving two American helicopters.
``They are not faceless casualties. They were flesh-and-blood men who
touched others in their hometowns. Harriman was described as soft-
hearted, sensitive to the suffering of others, yet a fierce competitor
on the football or baseball field. Svitak was an only child who wanted
to be like his parents, who both served in the Navy in the 1960s. Each
leaves a wife and two young children.
``Harriman and Svitak were devoted to the Army and their country.
`Stanley died for you and you and you,' his wife, Sheila Harriman, told
reporters at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, `and for your freedom. All
Stanley ever wanted to do was be an American soldier.'
``Both soldiers knew the dangers of their jobs. Both knew that by
making the military their career, they could be asked to put their
lives on the line for their country at any time.
``Roseann Svitak said her son `told me before he went, Mom, the
terrorists have to be stopped.' He said, `If they send me over there
and anything happens to me, I am proud to die for my country.'
``Both men were sent. Both died, leaving friends, family, children to
grieve and remember. They join John Willett and Craig Amundson, Ozarks
natives who died in the September 11 attacks on New York and
Washington. They are, for us in southwest Missouri, the faces of this
war.
``Six months after those attacks, the Nation has largely returned to
life as normal. Networks seek to reduce news programming to make room
for more entertainment. Crash reality shows move back up in the
ratings. Politicians again plot for their advantage.
``Yet the war continues, not a mop-up action but a full-scale
assault. Our neighbors are on the front line. Our neighbors are dying.
That ultimate sacrifice ought to mean something. The politicians will
tell us it is in defense of liberty, and they are right. But it is up
to us to decide what we will do with this liberty. Will we use it to
keep the government honest, to be aware of what is happening in the
rest of the world, to assure all Americans equal opportunity? Or will
we use it to pay more attention to contestants on Survivor than
soldiers in Afghanistan?
``Ozarkers are dying for freedom. How will we honor their
sacrifice?''
[From the Springfield News Leader, Mar. 6, 2002]
How Will We Honor Ozarks Soldiers?
Harriman and Svitak died fighting for our freedom.
From the beginning of the war in Afghanistan, President
Bush has warned Americans to be prepared for casualties. Now
we have them, and the pain of this war has been felt in the
Ozarks. It has taken two more of our neighbors:
Chief Warrant Officer Stanley Harriman.
Sgt. Philip J. Svitak.
Harriman, a Strafford High School graduate, was the first
American to die in the ground offensive on al-Qaida and
Taliban strongholds in eastern Afghanistan. Svitak, of
Joplin, was among the seven soldiers killed in incidents
involving two American helicopters.
They are not faceless casualties. They were flesh-and-blood
men who touched others in their hometowns. Harriman was
described as soft-hearted, sensitive to the suffering of
others, yet a fierce competitor on the football or baseball
field. Svitak was an only child who wanted to be like his
parents, who both served in the Navy in the 1960s.
Each leaves a wife and two young children.
Harriman and Svitak were devoted to the Army and their
country. ``Stanley died for you and you and you,'' his wife,
Sheila Harriman, told reporters at Fort Bragg, NC, ``and for
your freedom. All Stanley ever wanted to do was be an
American soldier.''
Both soldiers knew the dangers of their jobs. Both knew
that by making the military their career, they could be asked
to put their lives on the line for their country at any time.
Roseann Svitak said her son ``told me before he went, `Mom,
the terrorists have to be stopped.' He said, `if they send me
over there and anything happens to me . . . I'm proud to die
for my country.' ''
Both men were sent. Both died, leaving friends, family,
children to grieve and remember.
They join John Willett and Craig Amundson, Ozarks natives
who died in the Sept. 11 attacks on New York and Washington.
They are, for us in southwest Missouri, the faces of this
war.
Six months after those attacks, the nation has largely
returned to life as normal. Networks seek to reduce news
programming to make room for more entertainment. Crass
reality shows move back up in the ratings. Politicians again
plot for their advantage.
Yet the war continues, not a mop-up action but a full-scale
assault. Our neighbors are on the front line. Our neighbors
are dying.
That ultimate sacrifice ought to mean something. The
politicians will tell us it is in defense of liberty, and
they are right. But it is up to us to decide what we will do
with this liberty. Will we use it to keep government honest,
to be aware of what is happening in the rest of the world, to
assure all Americans equal opportunity? Or will we use it to
pay more attention to contestants on ``Survivor'' than
soldiers in Afghanistan.
Ozarkers are dying for freedom. How will we honor their
sacrifice?
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