[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 28 (Tuesday, March 2, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Pages S937-S938]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES
Lance Corporal Joshua Birchfield
Mr. BAYH. Madam President, I rise with a heavy heart to honor the
life of Marine LCpl Joshua Birchfield from Westville, IN. Joshua was 24
years old when he lost his life on February 19 while serving in
Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. He was assigned
to the 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I
Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms, CA.
Today, I join family and friends in mourning his death. Joshua will
forever be remembered as a loving son and a friend to many. He is
survived by his parents, Bruce Birchfield and Michelle ``Shelley''
Hacker; his grandmother, Frances Birchfield of La Porte; two sisters,
Rachael and Emily Birchfield, both of Westville; his stepfather, Ron
Hacker, stepgrandparents, Howard and Martha Hacker, and step-great-
grandmother, Mary Dickinson, all of Westville; and countless family and
friends who were privileged to know him.
Joshua was a Westville native. Prior to entering the service in 2008,
Joshua graduated from Westville High School in 2004. A talented
athlete, Joshua excelled at baseball in high school. Friends remember
Joshua's contagious passion for life.
Joshua served as a rifleman and was awarded the Purple Heart, the
Combat Action Ribbon, the National Defense Service Medal, the
Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal,
the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, and the NATO Medal.
While we struggle to express our sorrow over this loss, we can take
pride in the example Joshua set as a marine, a son, and a brother.
Today and always he will be remembered by family, friends, and fellow
Hoosiers as a true American hero. We cherish the legacy of his service
and his life.
As I search for words to honor this fallen marine, I recall President
Lincoln's words to the families of soldiers who died at Gettysburg:
``We cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this
ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have
consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world
will little note nor long remember what we say here, but it can never
forget what they did here.''
It is my sad duty to enter the name of Joshua Birchfield in the
official Record of the U.S. Senate for his service to this country and
for his profound commitment to freedom, democracy, and peace. I pray
that Joshua's family finds comfort in the words of the prophet Isaiah
who said, ``He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will
wipe away tears from off all faces.''
May God grant strength and peace to those who mourn, and may God be
with all of you, as I know He is with Joshua.
CORPORAL GREGORY SCOTT STULTZ
Madam President, I further rise today with a heavy heart to honor the
life of Marine Cpl Gregory Scott Stultz of Brazil, IN. Greg was 22
years old when he lost his life on February 19 while serving bravely in
Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
I join Greg's family and friends in mourning his death. Greg will be
remembered as a loving son and a friend to many. He is survived by his
mother Kim Stultz, and Kevin Jackson of Brazil; his father, Bill
Stultz, Jr., of Spencer, IN; his brothers, Zach Stultz and Jeremiah
Jackson of Brazil; his sisters, Jessie Stultz, Miriah Stultz, Haley
Stultz, and Sienna Jackson, all of Brazil; and countless family and
friends who were privileged to know him.
Greg was a Brazil native and graduated from Northview High School in
2006. He was a member of the football team and captain of the wrestling
team, and his athletic talent allowed him to attend Rend Lake Junior
College on a wrestling scholarship. Greg actively participated in
ministry at House of Hope in Brazil alongside his father and his
brother Zach.
Corporal Stultz entered the Marine Corps in November of 2007 and
became a decorated Recon Marine. He was awarded the Sea Service
Deployment Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Medal, the National
Defense Medal, and a Meritorious Mast certificate for his outstanding
service.
While we struggle to express our sorrow over this loss, we can take
pride in the example Greg set as a marine, a son, and a brother. Today
and always he will be remembered by family, friends and fellow Hoosiers
as a true American hero. We cherish the legacy of his service and his
life.
As I search for words to honor this fallen marine, I recall President
Lincoln's words to the families of soldiers who lost their lives at
Gettysburg: ``We cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot
hallow this ground. The
[[Page S938]]
brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it,
far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note
nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they
did here.''
It is my sad duty to enter the name of Gregory Scott Stultz in the
official Record of the U.S. Senate for his service to this country and
for his profound commitment to freedom, democracy, and peace.
I pray that Greg's family finds comfort in the words of the prophet
Isaiah who said, ``He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord
God will wipe away tears from off all faces.''
May God grant strength and peace to those who mourn, and may God be
with all of you, as I know He is with Greg.
Sergeant Jeremy McQueary
Madam President, I also rise with a heavy heart to honor the life of
Marine Sgt Jeremy McQueary from Columbus, IN. Jeremy was 27 years old
when he lost his life on February 19th in combat while serving in
Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. He was assigned
to the 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine
Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, NC.
Today, I join family and friends in mourning his death. Jeremy will
forever be remembered as a loving husband, father, son, brother and a
friend to many. He is survived by his wife Rae McQueary of Brown County
and their 5-month-old son Hadley as well as his mother, Deborah
Kleinschmidt, his stepfather, David Kleinschmidt, and his sister
Rebecca Willison.
Jeremy was a Columbus native. Prior to entering the Marine Corps in
January 2002, Jeremy graduated from Columbus East High School. His
mother said he loved fishing, four-wheeling and his family.
Jeremy earned a Purple Heart after surviving a roadside bomb attack
in Iraq. He nonetheless chose to return to combat after the incident,
which speaks volumes about his courage.
While we struggle to express our sorrow over this loss, we can take
pride in the example Jeremy set as a marine, a husband, a father, a
son, and a brother. Today and always he will be remembered by family,
friends, and fellow Hoosiers as a true American hero. We cherish the
legacy of his service and his life.
As I search for words to honor this fallen marine, I recall President
Lincoln's words to the families of soldiers who died at Gettysburg:
``We cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this
ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have
consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world
will little note nor long remember what we say here, but it can never
forget what they did here.''
It is my sad duty to enter the name of Jeremy McQueary in the
official Record of the U.S. Senate for his service to this country and
for his profound commitment to freedom, democracy, and peace.
I pray that Jeremy's family finds comfort in the words of the prophet
Isaiah who said, ``He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord
God will wipe away tears from off all faces.'' May God grant strength
and peace to those who mourn, and may God be with all of you, as I know
He is with Jeremy.
____________________