[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 31 (Tuesday, February 26, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1198-S1199]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING FALLEN HEROES

 Mr. BROWNBACK. Mr. President, I rise to acknowledge the 
sacrifice of our young men and women in the Armed Forces. Yesterday, I 
was fortunate enough to meet my friend, Albert Carey Caswell, a 
respected member of the Capitol Guide Service staff, in the Halls of 
the Capitol. He has written a poem in honor of Army SGT Jeff Mersman 
from my hometown of Parker, KS. Sergeant Mersman died in Afghanistan 
while on his fourth tour of duty with the 2nd Battalion, 503rd, 
Airborne Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team. I ask 
to have printed in the Record Mr. Caswell's poem in memory of SGT Jeff 
Mersman and all those heroes like him who gave their lives so valiantly 
for our country.
  We owe them a debt which can never be repaid.
  The poem follows:

                              Who Will Go?

     Who Will Go?
     And who will live, and who will die? And not ask why! a 
           Mother cries, as her sweet child has died. . . Who will 
           go? A Mother cries!

     Who will lead?
     So that we all can so live in peace. Who will die, and who 
           will bleed?
     Who will go, so that we all can so succeed?

     Who will serve?
     Who will hear that call, that cry. . .those most solemn 
           words?
     Who will bring a better world? Who will go? Out into the face 
           of hell, with but their magnificent flags unfurled!

     So our children can awake. . .
     In a better world, with but smiles in their hearts and souls. 
           . .as their first steps they so take!
     Who will go?

     Who will leave, their loved ones behind so?
     With brothers and sisters in arms, together bonding into such 
           an angelic glow. . .
     Who will go?

     Who will leave all that they so love?

[[Page S1199]]

     Out there into the darkest of all evils, to so rise above!
     Who will go?

     Who will give up their fine young lives?
     To Save The World, all in their most magnificent short 
           lifetimes so unfurled?
     Who will go?

     All we have. . .
     Are but moments in time!
     In our short lives! To grab hearts, to Heaven rise. . .To 
           Make A Difference. . .in all our short lives!

     Who will give?
     Give up their arms and legs, their bright eyes and faces so 
           have all of they! And take up that charge?
     To so make our world, a better place to live? Who will go?

     What families shall live?
     With such heartache, because to this country their fine sons 
           and daughters lives did so give!
     Who will cry? And who will go?

     Who up to Heaven shall so rise?
     All of those fine patriots, whom have so died. . . and all of 
           those loving mother's now with tears in eyes!
     And all of those fine families, All of these, and all of 
           those!
     To Heaven, They Will Go! They will go!
     Amen!

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