[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 190 (Monday, December 12, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2227-E2228]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             REMEMBER PEARL

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JOE WILSON

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, December 12, 2011

  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, Remember Pearl ``A Date 
Which Will Live in Infamy'' in solemn remembrance of Pearl Harbor on 
the 70th anniversary, December 7, 1941. The following poem was authored 
by Albert Carey Caswell, who is a Capitol Building tourguide noted for 
his thoughtful and heartfelt tours for Wounded Warriors and his 
devotion to servicemembers, military families, and veterans.

                             Remember Pearl

                       (By Albert Carey Caswell)

     In every country's history . . .
     There are but those defining moments that which so indeed!
     That which define there very destinies!
     As out into a future but plant such seeds!
     To so define her and give her all that she so needs!
     Remember Pearl . . .
     That day that will live in Infamy!
     As . . .
     For as a Nation, we must all so remember . . .
     That dark and dreary, very cold and bleak December . . .
     When . . .
     When there, on one beautiful Sunday morning . . .
     As America so lie all in harms way and in ruin, so all 
           without warning . . .
     As it was seventy years ago this day . . .
     All in a cowards way!
     When, so very unexpectedly!
     As ``A Date Which Will Live In Infamy'' . . .
     Was but a calm before the storm, as they . . .
     As they so tried to take America's very heart away . . .
     As lies now so all etched in Infamy . . .
     War! Pearl Harbor! The Devil's Creed!
     Feeding Evil's needs!
     When, so many heroes died indeed!
     Bless them all, God Speed!
     All in one of our Nation's darkest of all days . . .
     As a Nation so slept, had they . . .
     And so wept upon that day . . .
     As out across the world, such an Evil so unfurled . . .
     As this darkness all towards them so crept, towards our 
           little boys and girls . . .
     Goodness . . . Evil . . . Darkness . . . Light . . .
     Those brave hearts who evil must fight!
     Who but bring their light!
     Who Evil must fight!
     Would this Evil stand?
     As it was nearly eight on that morning, when each woman, 
           child, and man!
     All without such warning, when a sleeping giant so awoke!
     As from out of all of this heartache and such hell,
     and scenes of horror . . . as all in their fine hearts what 
           would dwell!
     Such a story to our children tell!
     One of Such Faith and Courage . . .
     As America's heart grew stronger, all in what their fine 
           souls so nourished!
     While, against all odds . . . such darkness, could not 
           discourage . . .
     As somehow America so found the hope and courage!
     All in how they so heroically behaved, and so fought and died 
           on that day . . .
     As out across a Nation, The Mothers Cried . . .
     As over one thousand were so wounded,
     and twenty-five hundred heroes on that day so died!
     And, still America would not so lose hope . . . for we all 
           somehow survived!
     All because of what, all within their most magnificent hearts 
           so lie!
     As from out of all of those ashes, death and fury . . . as 
           was invoked such a story!
     Came a Pearl, a gem so formed of which to all the world so 
           spoke!
     A story, all about America's Courage and Glory . . . and yes 
           so hope!
     For rising from out of such hell, all of their fine hearts so 
           chose to swell!
     As 18 ships were lost or crippled on that day,
     names like USS Arizona come to mind who were so sent to their 
           watery graves . . .
     As the waters now above gently caress their souls,
     as deep below in these ships their sacred bodies hold!
     As upon our knees, with tears in eyes for all of them we now 
           so pray!

[[Page E2228]]

     As the bombs rained down upon Pearl on that day!
     As almost two hundred planes were shot down or on run ways 
           lie ruin to decay!
     But, they say our Lord has his hand in it on that day . . .
     Because, our carriers were far out to sea . . . far out of 
           harms way!
     Giving our Country Tis of Thee, that chance to come back from 
           such Infamy!
     And suddenly now as a Nation, we were all on the march . . .
     all ahead full . . . as our hearts they could not so parch!
     As we collectively so sent the word, ``Over There . . . Send 
           The Word To Beware!''
     As this was the defining moment, when America So Set Out To 
           Save The World!
     So teach your children well, that out of Such Infamy and Such 
           Hell . . .
     Can come such light, Wherever Faith In Hearts So Dwells . . .
     And that America's Heart, will always find a way to swell!
     That in our darkest of all hours, our Faith will all so 
           shower!
     With The Strength To Over Evil, To So Tower!
     So on this day upon your knees, remember all of these . . .
     And, ``That Day Which Will Live In Infamy''!
     But, not forget what over Evil, Hearts of Faith and Courage 
           Can So Achieve!
     For something's time can not erase . . .
     And for such things, Heaven so holds a place!
     On This Day That Will Live . . . In Infamy!
     Remember Pearl, Bless them all God Speed!

                          ____________________