[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 64 (Thursday, May 1, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E855]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING AND REMEMBERING OUR TROOPS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JIM DeMINT

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 1, 2003

  Mr. DeMINT. Mr. Speaker, today we are here to honor and remember our 
troops--the young, brave Americans who recently fought to save a nation 
from enslavement. Answering the call of our great nation, young men and 
women are putting on a uniform, serving our military, and making 
enormous sacrifices. As American fighting men and women, they are 
helping write the history of the 21st century with bold strokes of 
courage.
  Like their parents and grandparents, our troops are having their 
characters tested. This time it is by sweltering heat, blinding 
sandstorms, and enemies that hid behind women and children. But they 
quickly won a victory, not just for a nation, but for a vision--a 
vision of freedom and individual dignity. As a result, their heroic 
efforts will help preserve peace around the world and extend freedom 
and human dignity to even more people.
  And when their service in Iraq is over, they will return home to a 
proud and grateful Nation. Their humility will pass off praise with the 
words ``just doing my job,'' while they think about their brothers and 
sisters who didn't come home. This is why America is so great. And 
through all their efforts our world continues to be shaped by American 
courage, power, and wisdom; and reverberates with American ideals.
  Still, our troop's victories in Iraq do not come without a price. The 
United States has lost some of its best citizens. Tonight we recognize 
one of those fallen Marines, Private Nolen Ryan Hutchings. A graduate 
of Boiling Springs High School, Ryan taught those around him what it 
meant to be an American, and his willingness to serve inspired others 
to become Marines.
  There is one story where he felt the need to honor a former 
classmate's deceased father who had retired from the military. Ryan 
traveled to several Marine bases to find a frame to hold a U.S. flag 
and then got in full dress uniform and presented the flag to the 
family.
  Without a doubt, Ryan's sacrifice will enrich the history of the 
Marine Corps, and places such as An Nasiriyah will be added to the list 
of hallowed ground like Belleau Wood, Iwo Jima, and the Chosin 
Resovior. At the same time, his dedication to his community, to his 
fellow Marines, and to his country provide us with a shining example.
  His strength, honor, sacrifice, devotion, and courage show us the 
path we must follow. As Ronald Reagan once said, ``some people wonder 
all their lives if they made a difference''--the Hutchings family will 
never have to wonder about Ryan.

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