[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 138 (Tuesday, December 7, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2201]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              RECOGNIZING THE SERVICE OF RICHARD E. MEADE

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JIM NUSSLE

                                of iowa

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 7, 2004

  Mr. NUSSLE. Mr. Speaker, the circle and legacy of service to the 
United States continues every year without end here in Congress.
  Members of Congress and our professional staff arrive and depart, and 
because that departure may seem to go without notice, those who depart 
may wonder whether their service has in fact made a difference, and in 
some manner secured the blessings of liberty for ourselves and our 
posterity.
  I cannot bear witness to all that I have encountered in this circle 
of service, but, I will try for the departure of one very special 
friend.
  Richard E. Meade has served me, the Congress, and the United States 
of America professionally, effectively, and unselfishly for over 
fifteen years.
  He has served me as my Chief of Staff for both my Iowa Congressional 
office and the House Budget Committee.
  During his tenure, his professional approach was one identified with 
integrity of purpose, quality of work product, and sincerity and 
honesty to every person he encountered, from the Speaker of the House 
to a citizen from Iowa.
  One of the many beauties of America is that our freedom is more 
precious and important than any one person, and yet, without that 
``mere person'' who is willing to serve freedom, respect freedom, and 
defend freedom, freedom could not exist.
  Richard E. Meade is such a person who during his life has been 
willing to serve, respect and defend American freedom, and in doing so, 
has helped secure the blessings of liberty for all of us, and for his 
lovely wife Elizabeth and their precious daughter Constance.
  Soon, memories of that service, like the memories of the service of 
so many others, may fade, and good people will step forward and 
continue in the legacy of quality service to the freedom we have all 
come to expect and too often take for granted. The circle of service 
continues.
  My humble words of appreciation cannot, and will not, equal the 
quality and quantity of service you provided me and our country, but 
Rich, I offer them with my ultimate respect and sincere gratitude for 
your many years of dedication to me and our liberty. Mr. Speaker, I 
simply say, Rich Meade, thank you for my freedom!