[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 117 (Tuesday, September 19, 2006)]
[House]
[Page H6708]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 LANCE CORPORAL RYAN ADAM MILLER--TEXAN

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Poe) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. POE. Madam Speaker, to be a police officer or a member of the 
United States military is a gift, a sacrifice; and it is an honor. The 
uniform they wear is a commitment to protecting society, guarding the 
weak, giving back to the community, and fighting the forces of evil. 
Every day, they risk their lives, and tonight I want to talk about one 
of these of the rare breed.
  Ryan Adam Miller from Pearland, Texas, and 19 years of age, was a 
third generation marine. His grandfather was a marine in the great 
World War II. His father Frank was a marine in Vietnam. Ryan was so 
committed to a future defending others, he graduated from high school 
early just so he could enlist into the United States Marine Corps and 
follow in the footsteps of Dad and Granddad, those who came before him.
  While Ryan loved the Corps, his dream didn't end with service to his 
country. He has another wish, another sacrifice he wanted to make. He 
wanted to finish his military career in the Marine Corps and join 
another force, the very same police force both his mother and father 
gave decades of their lives to.
  Both Ryan's parents served for years in the Houston Police 
Department. I know both of them because of my experience as a 
prosecutor and as a judge. At the last Houston Police Department cadet 
graduation this summer, I spoke to Ryan's mother Jeannie, who told me 
her son was coming back to Houston after he finished his tour of duty 
in Iraq to be a Houston police officer. This dream was almost a 
reality. Ryan even had planned to wear his mother's badge once he 
returned home for good.
  With two parents who were dedicated law officers, Ryan knew the 
tough, rugged life that lay ahead. He also knew the joys that came with 
the job. Both his parents instilled in Ryan community pride, 
dedication, and passion to serve others. Ryan Adam Miller's goals, 
commitment, and faith are proof of that.
  His mother recalls speaking to him last week when he talked of the 
fear that battle brings. He told her that he was praying, and God took 
away the fear of battle. One of Ryan's last acts was to give that peace 
to his parents, leaving them with the comfort that God would take care 
of him.
  Sadly, he was just days away from returning home when, on September 
14, this young marine 5 days ago was killed on patrol by an IED during 
combat operations against enemy forces in Al Anbar Province, Iraq.
  A loss not only for his family and our country, but our community 
back home in Texas. In these dark days of mourning, many people are no 
doubt trying to muster an encouraging word to comfort his parents. But 
it is their fellow police officers who have the most powerful and 
comforting thing to say. They say to him, they say to his parents, 
these officers in blue, ``He would have made a fine police officer.''
  Ryan Miller was a fine marine. He was a fine human being, and today 
as a Member of the United States House of Representatives, I send my 
best to the Miller family and give them America's support as they fight 
their own battle over his death.
  His death was not a loss, because he gave his life over there for all 
of us over here. Today we honor Ryan, we honor the parents of this 
marine and their sacrifices. I also pause today to remember the marines 
who served with Ryan, and all those who volunteered to defend and 
protect this great country. They are the fabric of this great Nation.
  While the blood of their fellow comrades is the red color in the 
stripes of Old Glory, these few, these proud, these marines, keep us 
free to see the stars, stars of liberty, freedom and justice. So Semper 
Fi, Lance Corporal Ryan Adam Miller, Semper Fi, and God bless these 
sons of America.
  And that's just the way it is

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