[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 131 (Monday, October 17, 2005)]
[House]
[Page H8812]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  MARINES PLAY IMPORTANT ROLE IN IRAQ

  (Mr. DREIER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, as my colleagues have said, the people of 
Iraq have chosen ballots over bullets. I want to congratulate the 
United States forces, the coalition forces, and of course the Iraqi 
security forces which did a phenomenal job over this past weekend.
  I would like to share, Mr. Speaker, with my colleagues a letter that 
came from the family of Byron Norwood, who, you recall, was killed in 
the battle of Fallujah last November. His parents were in the gallery 
when President Bush delivered his State of the Union message. They 
wrote to the Marines who are getting ready to be redeployed:
  ``As you prepare to deploy once again, we as Gold Star parents of a 
sergeant from your own battalion want you to know the depth of 
gratitude and support felt by Americans everywhere. We live in a time 
of conflicting messages, as free speech rights are exercised by a vocal 
few.
  ``Since the battle of Fallujah last November, we have received 
countless letters expressing heartfelt thanks to not only Byron but 
also to you as his fellow Marines. Had we not lost our son, we would 
not have been aware of the overwhelming appreciation and respect for 
those of you who wear the uniform.
  ``Byron loved being a Marine and welcomed the duty and honor of 
protecting the United States. He also loved his brother Marines and 
said there was nowhere he would rather be than with them until the 
mission was complete. He believed strongly in the need to fight 
terrorism at its source in order to lessen the risk of having to face 
it in our own neighborhoods. We are grateful for all of you who are 
willing to fight for something greater than yourselves.
  ``We are grateful for the freedoms that we are afforded by living in 
America, and we are aware that those freedoms exist only because we 
have men and women in the military who, for generations, have fought to 
protect them. Thank you for taking your place in the ranks of great 
warriors who understand the value of honor, courage, and commitment.''

                          ____________________