[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 130 (Monday, October 11, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1925]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING RYAN JERABEK

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MARK GREEN

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 8, 2004

  Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, every now and then, I hear 
someone say that America lacks heroes--those great men and women 
amongst us who we can use to inspire and teach our young people. In my 
view, the problem is that too many people look to the playing fields or 
the big screen for their heroes. But all of us here today know better--
because we are here to remember and honor one of our real heroes; an 
American who we are rightly very proud of, and whom we miss very much, 
Ryan Jerabek.
  Now, we all know that our work in Iraq is far from over. There are 
many challenges ahead and, sadly, there will likely be some more dark 
days ahead as well. But we also know there will be brighter days ahead 
too, more and more of them, as freedom's sunlight chases away the 
shadows of tyranny. That's what Ryan helped to do--bring sunlight to 
the shadows.
  What our servicemen and women are accomplishing is extraordinary--by 
any measure and compared to any mission in modern history. Sadly, their 
courage can be measured by the casualties--Ryan, Jesse Thiry of Casco, 
Warren Hansen of Clintonville, Stephen Martin of Rhinelander, Nichole 
Frye of Lena and others.
  But on this day, let's also measure their courage by how they've 
changed Iraq. Just a year and a half after chasing Saddam from power, 
Iraq is on the path to full sovereignty and moving toward free 
elections. When our soldiers first reached Iraq, they found chaos and 
they found evil. As USAID has reported, Iraq has 270 mass graves 
holding perhaps 400,000 bodies--people tortured for their beliefs, and 
killed for their ethnicity.
  Ryan and others fought, and rebuilt, and protected, and liberated--
and the results have been historic. They've helped rebuild 240 
hospitals, 1,200 clinics, 2,300 schools. They've distributed 1.5 
million student school kits and 9 million textbooks. They've immunized 
over 5 million Iraqi children. They've established 16 governing 
councils, over 90 district councils and nearly 200 community councils.
  In short, Ryan was doing a good thing--no, he was doing a great 
thing. And the ceremony honoring Ryan this weekend in Wisconsin is just 
one small sign that all of us recognize it.
  Ryan used to say that he wanted to be a teacher--he wanted to teach 
others and shape lives. Well, he did. His life, his work, his sacrifice 
have taught us all so very much. We will never, ever forget him. We are 
in awe of his service and all that he accomplished in his tragically 
short life.
  Ryan, you are our hero--a real hero.

                          ____________________