[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 60 (Monday, April 16, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E738-E739]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
TRIBUTE ON THE PUBLIC SERVICE OF RON GRIFFIN AND HIS SON, KYLE
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HON. SCOTT GARRETT
of new jersey
in the house of representatives
Monday, April 16, 2007
Mr. GARRETT of New Jersey. Madam Speaker, last month, one of my
constituents, Ron Griffin, journeyed to Iraq. His son, Kyle, had been
killed while serving in Iraq. Mr. Griffin wanted to meet with men and
women who were now serving there and with Iraqi citizens who were
living through the war there.
His trip was not sanctioned by our Government. In fact, the State
Department and Pentagon tried to talk him out of taking it for fear for
Mr. Griffin's safety. But, showing the same determination and
commitment that his son and his son's fellow servicemembers demonstrate
to the world every day, Mr. Griffin found his way to Iraq any way.
In the face of constant media and political attention on Iraq,
sometimes it seems that the negative news dominates coverage and it is
easy to forget the many positive acts about which we may never hear.
Mr. Griffin is on a mission to show the world how extraordinary the men
and women serving in Iraq are and how hopeful they and the Iraqi people
are for a better future. He says that what he saw in Iraq can be summed
up in three words: ``Professionalism. Humanity. Spirituality.'' And, I
would like to share his thoughts on his trip in his own words:
I journeyed to Iraq for this is where my son died helping
to free a nation. I came on my own dime without the
sponsorship of anyone. I simply desired to experience through
my own eyes a sense of what the true reality of life on the
ground in Iraq is from the words of and the ability to
observe the people who populate the Kurdish area in the
northern and eastern portion of Iraq and from our service
members wherever I had the honor of meeting with and speaking
to the true American Idols of our lifetime.
I went not as some distraught father searching for that
elusive feeling of closer that all so many believe that I
must attain in order to move on. I abhor that statement. It
is not the manner in which I mourn or honor my son and every
other Fallen Hero. Each day of my life I endure the numbing
sadness that is the reality of Kyle's death while in
simultaneously I have been comforted and supported by the
fathomless depths of human kindnesses. I am saddened for all
those who never had the pleasure of meeting my son, the other
Fallen Heroes or any of those other magnificent individuals
who have served and serve us this day. You have lost more
than I have for I have been honored to have walked among
greatness.
I came however with a pre-disposed political bent that is
in total support of our mission and for doing whatever and
for how long it takes for the successful completion of our
mission. Having spent nearing two weeks living among the
Kurdish people, journeying from Erbil to Duhok to Barzan and
countless locations in between and then traveling from
Harbor Gate on the Turkish border in the north down
through Mosul, Tikrit and finally to Baghdad with the
members of our magnificent military I am today an American
father who knows unquestionably and steadfastly that the
price my son paid to liberate Iraq was worth every ounce
of blood and sweat he sacrificed. However it is not from
the political perspective that I have reached that
conclusion but rather from the depths of the humanity of
the Kurdish people and the majesty in which our military
conducts themselves while in service to us.
Somewhere in the recesses of my consciousness I am
continually reminded that somehow I have been put on this
path for a purpose and that could not have been made more
perfectly clear than by what I have experienced these past
two weeks. I have long bridled under the incessant negativity
that the vast majority of the media portrayed as the reality
of Iraq. That notion was ripped from my perspective when I
was told outright by the Soldiers that they knew that
regardless of how many ribbons they helped cut, schools they
opened, or lives they improved on any given day that if one
bomb went off in Baghdad the story that would be told would
be the boom story. They felt bad for the American people for
they would then not be able to share in the joyous
satisfaction that the soldiers and the Iraqi people had
experienced. They are over that and now so am I. Likewise I
was somewhat consumed with the hypocrisy of those who mouth
the words of support for the troops while calling their
mission a failure and wanting to end it. I thought that such
statements were hurting the troops as they served us. I am
now ashamed of my lack of insight to what indeed is the
reality of Iraq, or at least that part of and the people of
that part that I journeyed through. Almost universally the
troops told me that they simply do not have the time to be
involved in the political aspect of what they are doing for
to do so would interfere with the performance of their job
and that is the primary mission to every Soldier. It finally
became clear to me from my many conversations that while
they, like most human beings would most certainly would
appreciate the unending support of the American people
especially as they endure all the hardships of being
Soldiers, they will perform every task assigned to them for
they are consummate professionals through and through. They
do their job because they are individuals of the highest
moral character who have sworn an oath to protect and defend
this country and nothing will prevent them from doing just
that. To watch them do their jobs is liken to viewing Tiger
Woods march through a golf course. The Soldiers just wear
different clothes.
Stepping off the plane in Erbil, a city of over 1 million
residents and the capital of the Kurdish region, you can not
help but be stunned by the majestic vistas, impressed by the
precision and competency of the personnel at the airport and
be totally astonished by the expansion that is taking place
on every section of the now Erbil International Airport and
the city itself for you must continually remind yourself that
indeed you are in Iraq! The physical part of the Kurdish
region is simply breathtaking in it's scope and beauty, while
the emotional aspect is riveting in its intensity and
vibrancy. Freedom permeates from every inch of this land and
in that sense of security, optimism resounds. The entire
region appears to be one vast construction site with building
and improvements going on everywhere. One only has to travel
but a few short blocks in any direction and the examples of
rapid and real progress stun your senses. I have likewise
traveled to the hinterland where the amenities of life are
Spartan but in both locations the quality of the Kurdish
people bring joy to all those that have the privilege of
meeting them. They seem to have been born with a perpetual
warm and engaging smile and a sincere and genuine greeting
for all those that they come in contact with. Eye contact is
never absent from the conversation, nor is the ever-present
wry smile that can burst into uncontrolled laughter at any
time. One need to only ride down the road from Erbil to
Khanzad, a 15 Km drive from central Erbil to experience
the joy of these wonderful people. There are endless
picnics ongoing during this month of celebration. Children
laugh, play and fly their kites, men play music or dance
while the women in festive and shimmering colored native
dress organize the feeding of everyone.
Each and every conversation is filled with the personal
atrocities that they have all endured. Atrocities that they
will forever remember and will not allow anyone to forget
[[Page E739]]
but amidst those stories of horror lurks absolutely no
seething need for revenge. They know full well that there is
no time or place for revenge and recrimination. They live
with the horror of yesterday and look to the future with
optimism and eternal thanks for the help and support of the
American people in helping them gain their total freedom.
Thank you and welcome are part of every conversation. From
Harbor Gate to Mosul to Tikrit to Baghdad back to Tikrit,
with a honored stop at Diyala, to Mosul and then finally back
to Erbil I have been simultaneously overwhelmed, stunned and
awe struck by the extraordinary professionalism of every
soldier I personally meet and those I only had the
opportunity to observe without them ever knowing that I was
watching. I learned of an organization that cares deeply,
profoundly and personally for the well being of every
individual within its ranks, while every individual member is
willing to sacrifice their very being for every other
individual member. That is why they go about what they call
their job but what I refer to as their passion with a clarity
of purpose that humbles you to your knees. In this
organization everyone and I mean everyone knows that they are
first and foremost a soldier who is fully trained and
prepared to go into battle should the need occur but they
likewise perform a multitude of vast ranging tasks that they
have been highly trained for to highest possible professional
standards. They completely understand their specific task and
perform it superbly for they know full well that every
individual soldier is equal in their value and importance to
the successful completion of the mission.
The words COMPLEXITY and PROFESSIONALISM scream at you as
you begin to understand all that is going on all about you.
From the formation of a huge truck convoy, to the logistical
requirements of a division, to the combat readiness of
squadrons of Blackhawks to the coordination of the divergent
aspects of public affairs one can not help but be stunned the
complexity of our effort in Iraq and most importantly the
professionalism in which the effort is carried out.
Accompanying that professionalism is the humanity of these
Soldiers who have sacrificed so much for us and of which we
sadly know so little. Their stories should be told and retold
for they are the heroes that we should be emulating. In
Baghdad I was fortunate to be allowed to stay in visitors
quarters and was escorted by a National Guard Unit from
Kentucky. I like most people had a somewhat diminished view
of the National Guard. I got to know these individuals quite
well and dramatically experienced that same level of
professionalism first hand. I was learning the history of the
county in Kentucky where my escort was from when a fire fight
broke out across the lake. After a number of minutes of
continuous fighting the Sgt's unit was notified that they
would be joining the fight. In an instant the calm of the
mess was transformed as these soldiers prepared for combat.
Three vehicles and 15 men would be heading out to the streets
of Baghdad. Everyone knew their job precisely. The guns were
mounted as the computers were spun up. Communications were
checked and every individual soldier completed their own
mental checklist. As if in a heart beat I watched as men did
what I initially thought was a transformation from escort to
Soldier but what I watched was in fact was a Soldier
performing one job and then another, both to the highest
professional standards.
Over the next few weeks Americans will argue over and
eventually vote for their choice as to who is going to get
the title of ``AMERICAN IDOL ``. They will watch transfixed
as young athletes perform at the highest possible level to
gain the title of National Champion of College Basketball.
Millions will flock to the baseball stadiums of America to
watch in awe as their teams begin their long journey to be
named as The World Champions of Baseball. All that should
pale before your eyes for those Wondrous Warriors who seek
not the accolades but unselfishly protect your very freedoms
have already earned the right to be crowned as World and
National Champions and are in fact ``THE TRUE AMERICAN
IDOLS'' for everyday they place their lives on the line for
us.
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