[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 107 (Tuesday, June 25, 2019)]
[House]
[Page H5081]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          ``NOW YOU ARE TWO''

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
South Carolina (Mr. Norman) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. NORMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to enter into the Congressional 
Record a special poem that was written by Harold Renwick, Jr. to his 
daughter, Penny, on her second birthday.
  Harold Renwick never delivered the poem as he was killed in action 
during the Vietnam war. The poem was discovered by Captain Bennet and 
mailed by a friend of Harold Renwick's, Major Charles King. It was 
mailed to Harold Renwick's wife, Penny's mother, on March 22, 1968.
  The poem is titled: ``Now You Are Two.''

     Rejoice and be happy this fine day.
     Have fun in all the games you play.
     Run, sing, be happy and gay,
     For you are 2, my daughter, today.
     Of all the wonderful days of the year,
     Today especially I wish I could be near
     To hold you, to hug you and share your world
     Of being a year older and being a girl.
     But alas, my child, with you I cannot be
     Because there is a need to keep the world free.
     A need that was created many years ago,
     When a people's thirst for freedom began to grow.
     You do not know these people; they are strangers to us.
     And you may ask, ``Daddy, why all the fuss
     For a people who live in a land far away?
     Daddy, why can't you be with me on my birthday?''
     As you grow older, my child, you will learn
     That in men's hearts a spark will burn.
     A spark so intense that it cannot be denied,
     So strong it is that men have died
     Fighting for what they believe is true;
     Fighting for freedom the way all men do.
     We have watched enough television to know
     That in this world bad people will go
     And try to hurt and harm the good guys.
     Cheat, steal, and tell all kind of lies,
     These are some of the things these bad guys do.
     This is the reason that your daddy flew
     Across the oceans to a land far away
     To help other daddies with their children to play,
     To help these daddies see their struggle through
     So they can say, ``Happy birthday, my daughter, now you are 
           2.''
     Don't weep, my child, for this birthday I'll miss.
     Go to your mommy and she'll give you a kiss
     From me, to remind you I've not forgot.
     You see, my child, I do love you a lot.
     So much, in fact, that to you I do pledge
     That a world of freedom shall be your heritage.
     Sleep, my child, the night is here.
     Sleep, my child, and wake without fear.
     Grow, my child, be happy and free,
     For these are the dreams I have for thee.

  This poem was written in 1968, over 51 years ago, and I submit to you 
that now is the time for America to heed these words of this poem 
written by a father who voluntarily made the ultimate sacrifice in 
defense of freedom.

                          ____________________