[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 24 (Tuesday, February 15, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E229-E230]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




IN HONOR OF PRESIDENT GEORGE H.W. BUSH ACCEPTING THE PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL 
                               OF FREEDOM

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. SAM JOHNSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 15, 2011

  Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, today President George H.W. 
Bush accepted the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Obama.
  President Bush, dubbed ``41,'' and I share the common bond very few 
combat veterans have experienced. We both were shot down while flying 
for our country. I am thrilled to report that he had a better 
experience after the

[[Page E230]]

shoot down than I did, but it's a once-in-a-lifetime experience that 
instantly bonds you with fellow survivors. I will always recall the day 
that I said goodbye to him on the tarmac at Andrews Air Force Base as 
he left Washington when President Clinton took office. I still hang the 
note that he wrote me thanking me for being there in my office. He's 
just that kind of personable guy who not only thinks of the little 
things that helps people feel great, he makes time for them.
  To commemorate the awarding of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, I 
would like to submit a poem, the Man the Lord Pulled from the Sea, 
written by Albert Caswell.
  Congratulations, President Bush. You're an outstanding American and a 
great patriot. God bless you, and I salute you.

                  The Man The Lord Pulled From The Sea

     A patriot's plane was shot from the sky . . .
     Would this brave heart live or die?
     What was to be?
     With his two comrades gone . . .
     As their fine souls rose up to Heaven, with our Lord living 
           on, eternally . . .
     And from the heavens up above, our Lord God in his love . . . 
           reached down and pulled this Hero, this Man From The 
           Sea!
     Our 41st President . . . born,
     George Herbert Walker Bush in Milton Massachusetts . . . on 
           June 12th, 1924 . . .
     Score a lifetime of public service, to his Nation so great be 
           assured!
     As none other in history, have so equaled so before!
     When all is said and done, his records are the ones . . .
     The historians will contend, are one of the greatest 
           Presidents I'm sure!
     Born of wealth, power, social prestige and such fame . . .
     How so easily, he could have so made . . . his life just a 
           game!
     Instead, he chose public service . . .
     As had too, his most distinguished Father Prescott Bush . . . 
           all of Senate fame!
     With a lifetime of public service, he can now so claim . . .
     Has so given even greater honor, to that already prestigious 
           family name!
     Just out of Phillips Academy, at 18 as he knew he had to be . 
           . .
     Off to war for this his country `Tis A Thee . . . ready to 
           die!
     With, The World To Be Saved, and a war to be won!
     This hero flew off, to that land of the rising sun, up in the 
           sky . . .
     Not hiding behind social position, as the world lie in such a 
           horrid condition!
     All because, patriot's never ask why!
     Leaving, he was barely a man . . .
     But returning home, as before us now so stood a hero so grand 
           . . .
     One of America's Best, no one denies!
     As once again, in 1944 he was so blessed . . .
     As he wed his true love and wonderful wife, Barbara Pierce no 
           less . . .
     And still, to this very day . . .
     Their great love story and wonderful family they consider, of 
           their life's greatest of all success!
     Returning home, as straight to Yale . . .
     As his heart would so roam, eager to grow at Andover he had 
           been ready to learn . . .
     Captain of a championship baseball team, even then the word 
           Bush meant lead!
     As great respect as a Leader, he had so earned . . .
     For athletics and exercise, he truly yearns . . .
     For within his heart, this great passion and way of life has 
           ever so burned!
     As a cowboy at heart, as so soon he drove off westward ho . . 
           . out of town . . .
     As to Texas as an oilman, he was so surely bound . . .
     Then, giving up his company he had built from the ground . . 
           .
     As when inside his great heart, so came a calling sound!
     So soon he discovered, it was public service that he was in 
           love with . . .
     Where his future and heart, and life's work were so to be 
           found . . .
     Following his respected Dad, Prescott footsteps into Congress 
           for two terms . . .
     And as the head of the CIA, as all of those commies he so 
           burned . . .
     Ever striving to improve, growing and learning, as The Man On 
           The Move, as for great challenges his heart ever 
           yearned!
     With it becoming clear, that ``The White House'' was ever 
           near, and all of the World.... The Name of Bush would 
           so soon learn . . .''
     Serving as Vice President . . . for two terms . . .
     As no higher respect . . . in this that office has so since 
           been so returned!
     As Timber Wolf, was the ``Go To Guy''!
     Among world leaders, his respect was so very high!
     That's something, that which must be so earned!
     Then The President in 88, no more accomplished resume has 
           ever been so great!
     As has had The Electoral College so confirmed!
     As history one day . . . shall so forever say . . .
     No more productive 12 years of Executive service, has ever 
           come her way!
     Because in 12 years . . . such incredible events!
     As a real future for our children, had so commenced . . .
     As the records will say . . .
     Bush and respect, and World leadership, are now one in the 
           same . . .
     As communism fell, do you remember that magnificent day?
     Our Lord so remembers, your great fight and devotion doing 
           right . . .
     To save that most sacred gift of life, ``The Unborn Child!''
     As now, high above you he so stands so proud . . .
     With tears in his eyes, as all across the heavens with great 
           smile . . .
     For each and every life, is so precious and so dear . . .
     For it's our Lord's greatest gift which so blesses us, as 
           Robin your sweet child so clear!
     While, all of the others questioned . . . it was you who so 
           drew that line in the sand! ``This aggression shall not 
           stand!''
     Mr. President, your plan saved the Mid East!
     Bringing together each, Jewish and Arab, woman and Man . . .
     For you had seen Hitler, and the evils that men do . . .
     As you all in your lifetime, had so lived through . . .``No 
           Never Again!''
     As you had stood in harms way once before!
     And you knew of the great cost to families in of war!
     So you followed a code!
     Giving to each and every hero, all that they would so need 
           so!
     So that they could so carry that load!
     As you said, ``if a hero must die valiantly in this honor's 
           code''!
     Then, to their loved ones . . . their true fine worth must be 
           showed!
     And no classier First Lady, or President have ever so graced 
           our Heartland . . .
     Reaching out to all, with but a warm hand . . .
     The Old System, a Member of The Gold System . . . for which 
           you so surely stand!
     In your treatment, of the average woman and so man . . .
     We come this way but only once, and how the big people treat 
           us, so surely makes our world's of such . . .
     All in our Lord's plans . . .
     For in this Capitol Town, the words class are often found . . 
           .
     Whenever, the name of George Bush we so sound!
     As his secret service tell of a man so renowned!
     While, working for Timber Wolf in town . . . he's a guy they 
           love to be around!
     With his great sense of humor, as him and Dana roll on the 
           ground . . .
     And his buddy Arnold, never lets him down!
     On your last days in office, how some people had forgotten 
           what you had done . . .`Oh, how it gives us such pain!
     But, history shall be far kinder and remember your name . . .
     And never forget your great record there, as always will 
           remain . . .
     As it's your words which so ring true, indeed it is what you 
           do! ``It's all about character'' . . . Time and Time 
           Again!
     Now, listen ever closely . . .
     From up in the Heavens up above . . .
     As our Lord looks down upon you, on this earth in all of his 
           love . . .
     As he's been watching you, throughout all of these years . . 
           .
     As these words you may hear, on a gentle breeze from up above 
           . . .
     ``George my Son, you've never let me down'' . . .
     I'm so glad that I pulled you, from the sea as I found . . 
           .on the wings of a dove'' . . .
     --Albert Caswell

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