[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 57 (Wednesday, April 9, 2003)]
[House]
[Page H3020]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          HONORING RANDY REHN

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Colorado (Mrs. Musgrave) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mrs. MUSGRAVE. Mr. Speaker, this week I had to do the hardest thing 
that I have done since I have been in Congress. In our offices, in the 
rooms that we go into even for our hearings, the images of the war are 
on the TV. We have seen them now day after day. But this week those 
images became very personal to me. I received word that one of my 
constituents, Randy Rehn, from Longmont, Colorado, a young man serving 
his country in Iraq, lost his life. When I got the news, I wanted to 
call Randy's family and offer my sympathy. And when Randy's mother 
answered the phone, I got a lump in my throat that would not go away. I 
have a son about that age, and I thought of what his mother was feeling 
at that time, and as I talked to her, she told me that just 2 short 
years ago she lost Randy's father to cancer and so she was facing this 
crisis without him, but she said she was very thankful that her other 
children were there with her and were supporting her.
  When we think about these losses, this war becomes very real to us. 
As I talked on to Randy's mother, she told me that he had a little 
daughter who is less than 1 year old. And tonight I would like to speak 
to little Megan, and I would like to say some things to her that will 
mean something to her when she is older and she can read this and she 
can understand. I would like to say to little Megan tonight, the 
precious little girl that will have to grow up without her father, that 
your daddy was serving his country and he was doing what needed to be 
done for little children just like you, Megan.
  I want Megan to know that her dad is a hero. I want her to know that 
he was doing a job that was extremely hard to do, and he was doing it 
willingly, and I am sure he was well aware that there were sacrifices 
to be made. So tonight, Megan, I want to say to you that your daddy 
laid down his life for others, especially little children like you.
  The Scripture says that our God will be a Father to the fatherless, 
and I just pray a special blessing on your little life, Megan, that God 
will bless you and your family, and I want you to always remember that 
your daddy was a hero and we love our soldiers who serve this country, 
who lay down their lives.

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