[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 122 (Tuesday, September 27, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1950-E1951]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    SUPPORTING GOLD STAR MOTHERS DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. MARILYN N. MUSGRAVE

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 21, 2005

  Mrs. MUSGRAVE. Mr. Speaker, as our Nation honors Gold Star Mothers, I 
rise today to honor a Gold Star mother from Colorado. Everyone knows 
that teachers have a heart for kids. Marian Lutters from Burlington, 
Colorado, devoted much of her life to elementary students.
  Before he left for Iraq, Mrs. Lutters' students were privileged to 
have her son Derrick come to her second grade classroom. He explained 
that he was going to Iraq as a soldier. He explained what the conflict 
was all about and what he wanted to accomplish. The young students were 
attentive and some of them later wrote letters to Derrick while he was 
in Iraq.

[[Page E1951]]

  Sadly, Derrick Lutters lost his life in battle on May 1, 2005, during 
Operation Iraqi Freedom. Derrick's death was a tragedy for his family 
and the entire community. Small towns are like that--they are like 
family and very close knit. Derrick's friends and former co-workers 
were devastated by the loss.
  Marian Lutters expressed how proud the entire family was of her son, 
``He said he wanted to protect people and help establish a better way 
of life, especially for children.'' Her words aptly honor her son's 
ultimate sacrifice.
  Mrs. Lutters is supported by the entire community, and it is my 
desire that she also feels the continued respect, admiration, and 
heartfelt sympathy from the Members of Congress and Americans across 
the country.

                          ____________________