[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 29 (Wednesday, March 3, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E290]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      IN TRIBUTE TO REPRESENTATIVE JOHN P. MURTHA OF PENNSYLVANIA

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 24, 2010

  Mrs. MALONEY. Madam Speaker, I rise to say goodbye to a friend.
  New York City, and the rest of the world, lost a friend when Jack 
Murtha died.
  Jack Murtha served his country in every possible way.
  He served it in Vietnam as a Marine; he served in western 
Pennsylvania as a son, husband and father; and he served it for over 40 
years in Harrisburg and in Washington, as a legislator's legislator.
  He won respect for the honest, plainspoken, compassionate way he 
played all of these roles.
  But to me, he played those roles like a brother.
  He spoke often of the strong women in his family being essential to 
his success in life.
  His great-grandmother, he once recalled, told him at age 6, ``You're 
put on this Earth to make a difference.''
  Boy, did he ever.
  He volunteered as a Marine, first in the 1950s during the Korean war.
  He re-enlisted at age 34 and served in Vietnam--earning the Bronze 
Star, two Purple Hearts, and the Vietnamese Cross for Gallantry.
  He became the first Vietnam veteran to be elected to Congress, in a 
February 1974 special election, starting a legendary Washington career 
as a member of the Appropriations Committee.
  When I came to this chamber for the first time, the ``Pennsylvania 
Corner'' was in full flower. We grew close and even though we didn't 
agree on everything, we worked together often--on issues ranging from 
breast cancer research funding to the Intrepid Museum on the Hudson.
  When he decided that the Iraq war was unwinnable in 2005, he earned 
his stripes all over again, providing leadership on this crucial issue. 
He visited my district, and so many others, explaining how he came to 
his decision.
  Madam Speaker, as a Congressman, Jack Murtha won respect in these 
halls and on this floor . . . but as a man, he earned our love. We will 
miss him.
  My thoughts and prayers are with his wife Joyce, and the entire 
Murtha family.

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