[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 92 (Tuesday, June 25, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E965]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




A HERO, WHO WOULD NOT CHANGE A THING IN HONOR OF LANCE CORPORAL TIMOTHY 
    DONLEY 1ST BATTALION 8TH MARINES THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

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                      HON. MICHAEL G. FITZPATRICK

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 25, 2013

  Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor one of 
Pennsylvania's brightest sons from Telford Montgomery County, Lance 
Corporal Timothy Donley of 1st Battalion 8th Marines. On February 9th, 
2012 while out on patrol, an IED explosion nearly cost him his life. 
After receiving 68 units of blood on the first night, it took a month 
before they knew if he would live or die. In six months Tim has come so 
far and so fast with the help of his family to inspire him and support 
him. His parents, Gregg and Kathryn, are missionaries. Tim is a bright 
light, and anyone who spends time with him will be inspired. He is also 
a very talented singer and has performed recently with Yo-Yo Ma at The 
Kennedy Center in Washington. In honor of his service to our Nation and 
his courage, I submit this poem penned in his honor by Albert Caswell.

                  A Hero, Who Would Not Change a Thing

     You can climb mountains!
     And You can swim the seas!
     You can go off to war and hunt down enemies!
     And You can cheat death!
     And You come back home and start all over again you Marine!
     And You can lose your legs and still walk taller then me!
     And You can sing on a stage at The Kennedy!
     And You can show Yo-Yo Ma what a hero so can be!
     And You can wear so proudly those most magnificent shades of 
           green!
     And You can be one of the few, a United States Marine!
     And You are everything that Superman so wishes he could be!
     And You can beat pain!
     And You can beat heartache!
     And You can beat death!
     And You can start all over again!
     You can jump out of helo's with your brothers so 
           courageously!
     And You can walk bravely through a field of IED's!
     And You can run through a hail bullets to pursue the enemy!
     Because you're a Hero and a Champion,
     ``who would not change a thing'' . . . so indeed!
     In war,
     in all of those moments that which magnificence so brings!
     On battlefields of honor where valiant hearts so bravely do 
           sing!
     All in those moments between life and death,
     All in what a Hero so brings!
     That only the most heroic of heart's can so endure such 
           things!
     Which are all so written with such magnificent lyrics, that 
           they so sing!
     That which say so-so much more that just about any old thing!
     And that's what you've so composed Tim,
     to be sung all in your most heroic being!
     That which so sings all about your fine life and what it 
           means!
     A real tour de force which so shines as bright as anything!
     That which you have so written to so inspire all beings!
     To so lift up the hearts of all those in need!
     When lying at death's door while you so began to bleed!
     Clinging to life and fighting off death,
     with the kind of courage that you would so need!
     As when you so looked down,
     as below you nothing you so found!
     As you so found the courage to change course all at speed!
     And be The Hero, that today we all so see!
     As you never gave up!
     And you never gave in!
     As all in your tears,
     you so wrote your life's lyrics my friend!
     To Be a Champion and a Hero so to begin!
     As somehow you moved out of all of that darkness so then!
     To so accept God's Will,
     from somewhere deep down within!
     To be the kind of Hero,
     who to Heaven we will send!
     As from your most heroic lips,
     these beautiful words of steel you'd begin!
     ``I . . .''
     ``I would not change a thing!''
     As somehow Tim,
     accepting God's Will in your new journey you could so conquer 
           anything!
     As your words to our hearts Tim, the tears do so bring!
     As The Pride of Pennsylvania,
     all out in front like the Liberty Bell with such inspiration 
           you ring!
     And from that first day on . . .
     deep down inside of your most heroic heart what was born!
     As something,
     of such beauty and grace was so formed!
     As your undying faith,
     so helped you to so find your way to move on!
     All with your amazing grace so very warm!
     As we so see that bright smile upon your face which is now so 
           worn!
     As you so began and so won your own private war!
     And with each new step Tim that you would so take!
     You made the Angel's up in Heaven, hearts so break!
     Yes it's clear Tim,
     that one day Heaven for you so all awaits!
     But for now,
     as an America Hero you so have your place!
     For some people are but put upon this earth,
     who but all must so face!
     So face the worst,
     out on each new day!
     To so inspire us all out on our ways!
     To So Teach Us!
     To So Beseech Us!
     To So Reach Us!
     To So Show Us All What So Comes First!
     Oh But To Be A United States Marine!
     And to so serve our Country,
     and our Lord as we have in you all seen!
     For in the end,
     most people but live their lives but in such regret!
     Realizing, that behind them nothing they have so left!
     But real Heroes,
     so bravely march off to God's Will accept!
     To be a Champion and a Hero,
     standing heads all above the rest!
     For Tim, you and your most courageous family . . .
     Have this our nation have so blessed!
     And if I ever have a son,
     I'd wish he could be like you this one!
     Who so lives his most courageous life without any regret!
     Just a young man,
     and already you've done more than most of us ever will or so 
           can!
     And yet Tim up ahead,
     but lies the best yet so to come!
     For God has his special plans for you, my Son!
     And for all of those who so his Will so graciously except,
     as thy will be done!
     For Tim,
     your courage and your undying faith,
     shines so bright out on everyone on your way!
     ``I would not change a thing!''
     And for the rest of my life,
     your words in my heart I will sing!
     Ooh Rah Jar Head,
     oh what to our world your bright future will so bring!
     ``I WOULD NOT CHANGE A THING!''

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