[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 148 (Wednesday, September 17, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1814]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        A TRIBUTE TO JOHN AMIOTT'S ``YESTERDAY A VETERAN DIED''

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                           HON. KEITH ELLISON

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 17, 2008

  Mr. ELLISON. Madam Speaker, I submit the following:

                        Yesterday a Veteran Died

                      John Amiott, USAF 1967-1970

       Yesterday a veteran died but the world hardly noticed. Age 
     or race or gender, it made no difference; soldier or sailor, 
     airman or marine, it made no difference.
       Yesterday a veteran died. He was one of the millions, who, 
     over the centuries, interrupted his life to serve when his 
     country called.
       Yesterday a veteran died. He wore his uniform with pride 
     and sense of purpose. He went where he was asked to go and 
     performed the duties for which he had been trained. He 
     committed to fight their fights and to safeguard their 
     secrets with a solemn oath that remained unbroken.
       Yesterday a veteran died. He was changed forever by his 
     experiences but his society also changed. The lines of social 
     consciousness were redrawn, the old morality was altered and 
     by the time of his return he found different standards 
     applied.
       Yesterday a veteran died. Like the hundreds of generations 
     before him and the endless roster of those who will follow, 
     he tried to make sense of the chaos and confusion created by 
     the metamorphous of a citizen turned warrior and then 
     returned to the life of a civilian.
       Yesterday a veteran died. And, as with far too many of his 
     peers, the real conflict began when the tour of duty ended. 
     His personal battle would become a private hell; a hell born 
     from the memories of the reality of life in a shadow world. A 
     place where a chosen few practiced their craft; a world few 
     outsiders knew existed and even fewer understood. His was 
     that shadow world, the one he could never completely leave; 
     the one from which there was no escape.
       Yesterday a veteran died. Now his soul would find the 
     elusive peace of mind and spirit for which he had been 
     searching. No longer will he awake, sweating and screaming in 
     the night, plagued by the nightmares of his past. No longer 
     will the ghosts of war haunt him, no longer will the cries of 
     conflict echo in his ears.
       Yesterday a veteran died. When he is laid to rest an honor 
     guard will fire a rifle volley to mark his passing. And for 
     him the mournful wail of a bugle will sound one final time.
       Yesterday a veteran died. He will face his God knowing he 
     served his country and did his best. The family and friends 
     he loved will weep and mourn their loss. And the world will 
     hardly notice that we have all been diminished.
       Yesterday a veteran died. But with the grace of God and the 
     wisdom of nations, perhaps we are closer to the time when we 
     will no longer need to say, ``Yesterday a veteran died.''
       And then, perhaps, finally, the world will notice.

       

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