[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 77 (Thursday, May 9, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Page S2767]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES


                    staff sergeant travis w. atkins

  Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, in honor of National Military Appreciation 
Month, I want to recognize a Montana hero, Medal of Honor Recipient SSG 
Travis W. Atkins of Bozeman. Montana and the Nation are eternally 
grateful for the sacrifice he made to protect his fellow soldiers and 
his country. His memory will live on in the hearts of all Montanans for 
years to come.
  I ask unanimous consent that a poem penned in his honor by Albert 
Carey Caswell be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                            The Greater Good

     The Greater Good . . .
     In all you could . . .
     Oh what would?
     What would you do?
     In honor should . . .
     All in that moment of truth . . .
     As there lies the truth . . .
     So lies the proof . . .
     In life and death . . .
     When courage crest's . . .
     To give all that you have left . . .
     All in your most heroic quests . . .
     As so surely lies our very best . . .
     Our world shall bless . . .
     Goodness . . . Evil . . . Darkness . . . Light . . .
     Those Brave Hearts who evil must fight . . .
     Who bring the light . . .
     But, for the greater good . . .
     To fight the darkness as Travis you so would . . .
     And what child may be born . . .
     From a future love you saved which may live on . . .
     Who might save the world or touch hearts oh so warm . . .
     For only the future tells . . .
     For only our Lord knows so well . . .
     As you Travis showed us all how future Angels are born . . .
     All in honor's code . . .
     As you so bore the load . . .
     With all your splendid splendor so . . .
     As we now so weep . . .
     As your family and your Brothers In Arms will always keep . . 
           .
     Your most gallant memory in their hearts so deep . . .
     My son, your battle is over now . . .
     But, your new one is about. . .
     Is about to begin my friend . . .
     As an Angel in The Army of Our Lord, time and again . . .
     As you will watch over us my friend . . .
     And in Montana when there comes a gentle . . .
     Our Lord's tears shall wash down upon your loved ones to ease 
           their pain . . .
     Until, one fine day once again . . .
     Up in heaven you'll meet then . . .
     And you won't have to cry no more . . .
     At Ease . . .
     As a new Angel rises up to heaven to bless . . .
     As now we lay your fine body down to rest. . .
     Who but For The Greater Good all of us so blessed . . .
     Amen . . .

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