[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 102 (Tuesday, July 10, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1221-E1222]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        IN HONOR OF SSGT MARCUS ``MARK'' BURLESON AND HIS FAMILY

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. K. MICHAEL CONAWAY

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 10, 2012

  Mr. CONAWAY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an American hero from 
my district in Odessa, Texas, SSGT Marcus ``Mark'' Burleson of the 2nd/
EOD Company, The United States Marine Corps. On December 9, 2011, while 
serving in Afghanistan, SSGT Burleson was disarming a second IED, when 
a third one nearby exploded, almost taking his life. He lost one arm 
and the complete use of another. He lost one eye and vision in his 
other, and suffered numerous other severe injuries. In much pain, SSGT 
Burleson continues to recover with the help of his wife, Sara; his sons 
Marcus and Issac; and his daughter, Ariel. Families and heroes like 
these are the heart of Texas and the backbone of America. I ask that 
this poem, The Heart of Texas, penned in their honor by Albert Caswell, 
be placed in the Congressional Record.

                           The Heart of Texas

     The. . .
     The Heart of Texas. . .
     Out in The West. . .
     In Texas,
     where men grow tall who can so pass that test!
     Men like Houston and Austin,
     who were but of our nation's very best!
     For from her Heart,
     now comes such a man no less,
     who so answered that most noble call when he was so asked!
     Who all for our freedom so faced death!
     That Call to Arms!
     That Call to Fight,
     as did this young man to do what was right!
     To so march off to war,
     so boldly there all in uniform!
     All out into the darkest of all nights!
     For from out of her heart so came,
     you Mark. . . one of her most magnificent of all sights!
     Because, In Texas they grow em tall!
     And Heroes too,
     somehow they just don't believe in small!
     All in this United States Marine,
     the one who so answered that most noble and proudly worn 
           those shades of green!
     SSGT Burleson,
     all in you. . . and what we saw!
     Was but,
     The Heart of Texas who but gave his all!
     All in your most magnificent shades of green!
     Because, you Mark. . .
     so grew up to be one of the finest of all things that one 
           could be!
     As you so grew up to be A United States Marine!
     Because, all in you. . . The Very Heart of Texas can so be 
           seen!
     As the eyes of Texas are upon you Mark,
     and they so like what they have seen!
     All in your fine life of Strength In Honor,
     and what it all so means!
     While, against all odds. . .
     somehow almost like a God, you'd so convene!
     And not give up you United States Marine!
     For you had one of the toughest jobs of that war!
     Where, each new step, EOD. . .
     but so means death for sure!
     For only a man of such character and faith,
     could such fear so ignore!
     As there you were on that day,
     when your fine life almost when away!
     As an explosion took your arms,
     and eye and so ravaged your body all in every way!
     As it was all in that moment when you so had a choice. . .
     When, your heart as big as Texas so said listen to that inner 
           voice!
     And don't give up,
     as all of your Brothers In Arms for you began to pray!
     As somehow, someway you Mark have so come back from that day!
     Oooh. . .rah. . . Jar Head,
     as your Heart of Texas has so led the way!
     To so help you to so leave behind,
     all of that pain and heartache that which comes to you on 
           each day. . .
     To So Move On, To So March Off. . . To Our World To So Bless!
     Because, nothing is getting in this Marine's way! As You So 
           Teach Us!
     As You So Beseech Us!
     As You So Reach Us!
     All in what your fine heart conveys!
     For you are More Than Just A Man Mark,
     you are one of Texas's very best!
     Teaching us all,
     what that word hero so means no less!
     They say everything is bigger in Texas,
     and maybe Hearts and Heroes too so yes!
     And if I ever have a son,

[[Page E1222]]

     I wish he could be like you who our world does bless!
     Because, after that morning when you awoke. . .
     As you so had a choice,
     as your fine heart to you so spoke!
     Give Up Or Give In, and make the Angels cry so then. . .
     For your wife and sons and daughter found the hope. . .
     All in Mark what your fine soul invoked. . .
     As you've put the T in Texas,
     all in your heart of strength and of such hope!
     Because, arms and legs Mark we all need. . .
     but somehow we can cope!
     But, up in Heaven you need not any of those. . .
     And that's where you are going one day to be with our Lord so 
           close. . .
     Without them we can still survive!
     But, without a heart of faith. . . our souls will so surely 
           die!
     Because, Marine your Strength In Honor and Courage brings 
           tears to our eyes!
     Moments are all we have!
     To change the world!
     To go off with but our flags unfurled!
     To Make A Difference With It All!
     All but for The Greater Good,
     to so answer that most noble call!
     And families like your's SSGT Burleson,
     who so see their loved ones injured and fall!
     Are the ones who must now so watch and help them rebuild,
     all in such pain one and all!
     As out to all of these quiet heroes our hearts so call!
     As they give you the strength and encouragement. . .
     but to live but one day more, to give your all!
     For families like these,
     Heaven will one day call!
     As why we see on this very day,
     a smile upon our face. . .
     As we so watch you Mark,
     The Heart of Texas in every way!