[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 18 (Tuesday, February 14, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E152]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E152]]
      RECOGNIZING MR. ADAM BROWN OF BOILING SPRINGS, PENNSYLVANIA

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. TODD RUSSELL PLATTS

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 14, 2006

  Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the patriotic 
essay on military service by one of my young constituents, Mr. Adam 
Brown of Boiling Springs, Pennsylvania.
  Adam's essay entitled, ``Narratives of Soldiery,'' was submitted for 
publication by Mr. Larry Babitts, a twice-wounded, two-war combat 
veteran and commander of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, 
Capitol City--West Shore Chapter 11, Boiling Springs, Pennsylvania. In 
his essay, Adam pays tribute to the courageous service and sacrifice of 
those men and women in uniform who selflessly guard our individual 
freedoms and liberties here at home and throughout the world.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to submit Adam's essay for publication in 
the Congressional Record, at Mr. Babbits' request. Adam's essay reminds 
all Americans that it is our solemn national duty to support our fellow 
citizens who volunteer to forfeit their own security to defend and 
preserve the rights and liberties that make our Nation the world's 
pinnacle of freedom. In Adam's words, ``there is no greater gift than 
serving your country.''

                         Narratives of Soldiery

                            (By Adam Brown)

       Hang your head in shame, those who think themselves too 
     good for service, for there is no man who may say it with 
     truth. Those who find themselves in wealth's company and 
     belittle the soldier, hold your self-righteous tongues in the 
     presence of men greater than yourselves. Before your 
     mercurial words lash on the backs of the men who fight, 
     remember this; the dream that you live was delivered by those 
     men whom you belittled. For a rich man who thinks himself too 
     valuable for soldiery is worth less than the vagabond who 
     answers his nation's call.
       All men of a free nation are indebted to nation that grants 
     them that freedom. And the soldier, violent so as his acts 
     may be, is the vessel with which those freedoms are 
     delivered. Go Curser of the warrior, exercise your freedoms; 
     speak what you will, worship what you will, and congregate 
     where you will, but rest your head at night with an uneasy 
     conscience. For when your nation looked for your service 
     in time of war, you lowered your head, so as not to be 
     recognized, so let your head stay lowered in dishonor. 
     Wise is the common man who recognizes his debt, and pays 
     it with his service, for there is no greater gift than 
     serving your country.
       Common man, you may walk the roads of your country knowing 
     one absolute truth, every time you fought on our behalf, 
     every time you killed out of orders, and every time you held 
     a dying brother, you earned your rights. Every American gets 
     them, but you, oh noble veteran, have earned them in a way 
     the nay-sayer will never. And his riches can never buy what 
     you have earned. Keep this knowledge sacred, that in paying 
     the debt to your country, all others now owe that debt to 
     you. You now owe no man, only God.
       Common man of soldiery, what you have done will be forever 
     with you, both your valiance and your nightmares. For every 
     soldier remembers, be it right or wrong, taking life. So when 
     you wake in your bed with cold sweat, find comfort; find 
     comfort in the fact that the actions that give you 
     nightmares, have also brought you honor. And search for a 
     small measure of peace. In a world that was fair, no one 
     would ask you to be strong again, because you have shown 
     enough strength for your entire lifetime. But, alas, this 
     world lacks perfection, and you are never rid of what is 
     asked of you.
       Though it isn't fair, still you must be strong, strong for 
     your family, and your community. Do not search for 
     recognition for what you have done; it will come of itself. 
     It seems impossible to find enough toughness in oneself to 
     remain the pillar of strength for so many, but you can do it, 
     and you must do it. People will look to you as the military, 
     be it invited or not. So your actions reflect on the 
     military, the entire military, regardless of your branch, it 
     is for this reason you must still be strong. Though you 
     may not think it, you will find inner strength to hold up 
     all that you need to.
       You who retreats from honor's light, again you are 
     addressed. When a soldier enters your presence, dare you not 
     to criticize or even meet eyes with him. For you did cower, 
     and no self-justification will nullify that fact. You have 
     the luxury of speaking ill of the nation, and its leader. 
     Carry with you any politics you may, speak ill of your 
     government if you see fit, for that is the first liberty we 
     took upon creating our country, but see the line between the 
     government, and the soldier. For that line is a canyon for 
     which there is no compare, And if you truly think ill of your 
     government, do not impose upon a soldier, your 
     dissatisfaction. For if not for him you would hail: a British 
     crown, a Mexican president, a slave holder, a German Furher, 
     a Japanese Emperor, a Korean Dictator, a Russian Czar, or an 
     Arab Sheik. This list is long and the common soldier did 
     fight and prevail over all these. So you have no place to 
     quarrel with such a noble man. Keep in mind, the soldier is 
     merely the sword of his people, to do what they wish. One 
     does not blame the sword for who it cuts down, or why it 
     cuts, the sword only does what its wielder commands. Yet 
     forget not your duty, to speak against the government if it 
     should become tyrannical, because you are bound by honor to 
     see the sword not abused.
       Some men measure success in gold and things of beauty; I 
     pity these men. Some measure success in popularity, these men 
     too, I pity. For success is nothing more than accomplishing 
     something correctly, every man has done this, and every man 
     has failed at this. Men place too much importance on success, 
     and in doing so have neglected the most important of all 
     virtues, honor. But what is honor? Honor cannot be tasted, 
     seen, or heard, but felt; not just by he who is honorable, 
     but everyone around him as well. Honor is standing defiantly 
     in the face of that which is wrong and stating with a stem 
     voice and clenched fists, ``This is not right, and I will not 
     let this stand.'' Those words will emanate to the heavens and 
     rally the angels' cheers. Those words will shake hell to 
     hysteria and send demons fleeing in fear.
       Take a moment, Common Man of the Soldier, and find simple 
     comfort in the fact that not all turn a blind eye to what you 
     have done. For what you carry with you; you are honored.

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