[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 116 (Thursday, July 31, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S10595]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    HONORING PRIVATE ROBERT McKINLEY

  Mr. President, I also rise today with a heavy heart and deep sense of 
gratitude to honor the life of a brave young man from Peru, IN. Private 
Robert McKinley, 23 years old, died in Hamburg, Germany on July 8 after 
suffering heat stroke the month before while fighting in Mosul, Iraq. 
Robert joined the Army with his entire life before him. He chose to 
risk everything to fight for the values Americans hold close to our 
hearts, in a land halfway around the world.
  Robert was the twelfth Hoosier soldier to be killed while serving his 
country in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Today, I join Robert's family, his 
friends, and the entire Peru community in mourning his death. While we 
struggle to bear our sorrow over his death, we can also take pride in 
the example he set, bravely fighting to make the world a safer place. 
It is this courage and strength of character that people will remember 
when they think of Robert, a memory that will burn brightly during 
these continuing days of conflict and grief.
  Before leaving to fight in Iraq, Robert McKinley promised his 
grandfather he would be careful, telling him that if there was anything 
he could do to make our country better, then he wanted to do it. Robert 
had only been in the Army for 8 months, but had already seen three 
tours of duty and was serving in the 101st Airborne Division, a unit 
which played a crucial role in the actions in Iraq.
  Robert was born in Peru, IN. He enjoyed fishing for walleye in Canada 
with his grandfather and participated in Peru's 4-H Club for 10 years. 
Robert graduated from Peru High School in May 1998. His family says the 
military provided him with an essential sense of direction. Robert 
leaves behind his mother, Deborah McKinely, his sister, Kay, and his 
grandparents, Robert and Pauline Feller.
  As I search for words to do justice in honoring Robert McKinley's 
sacrifice, I am reminded of President Lincoln's remarks as he addressed 
the families of the fallen soldiers in Gettysburg: ``We cannot 
dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground. The brave 
men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far 
above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note nor 
long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did 
here.'' This statement is just as true today as it was nearly 150 years 
ago, as I am certain that the impact of Robert McKinley's actions will 
live on far longer than any record of these words.
  It is my sad duty to enter the name of Robert McKinley in the 
official record of the Senate for his service to this country and for 
his profound commitment to freedom, democracy and peace. When I think 
about this just cause in which we are engaged, and the unfortunate pain 
that comes with the loss of our heroes, I hope that families like 
Robert's can find comfort in the words of the prophet Isaiah who said, 
``He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away 
tears from off all faces.''
  May God grant strength and peace to those who mourn, and may God 
bless the United States of America.

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