[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 158 (Tuesday, September 14, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6477-S6478]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                 Honoring Lance Corporal Jared Schmitz

  Mr. BLUNT. Mr. President, I rise today to join my colleagues in 
honoring the 13 servicemembers who were killed in action in Afghanistan 
last month doing what only the bravest and the most extraordinary 
Americans do: risking their lives to save others.
  Every name has been mentioned on the floor today, but no matter how 
often we mention those names, we can't restore those individuals to 
their families. We can't restore them to their communities. We can't 
restore them to the people they served side by side with in the 
military.
  But we can remember what they did--what they did collectively, and 
what they did individually.
  One of the marines we tragically lost in the attack at Kabul airport 
was Lance Corporal Jared Schmitz of Wentzville, MO. He was just 6 
months old on 9/11. In fact, we have seen that discussion many times of 
people who now give their life who were babies or not yet born on 9/11, 
20 years ago.
  Even though he was 6 months old on 9/11, he knew what he wanted to 
be, and he knew he wanted to be a marine by the time he was a sophomore 
in high school. He started training as a teenager, years before he 
enlisted. After graduating from Fort Zumwalt South High School in St. 
Peters, MO, he realized his dream. He joined the Marines and served as 
an infantryman.
  Jared's father Mark Schmitz says his son--this is his father's quote 
and it is a great thing to be able to say about your son. Mark Schmitz 
said his son ``looked out for everybody. Anyone who needed help, he was 
there. He was selfless. He never put himself first.''
  Of course, we see another moment when he and the others whose lives 
were lost and others who were injured--some dramatically injured--
didn't put themselves first; they put others first.
  Friends remember Jared as energetic, as happy, as a faithful fan of 
the St. Louis Blues. Others will remember him as 1 of 56 Missourians 
who made the ultimate sacrifice as part of the either Operation 
Enduring Freedom or Operation Freedom's Sentinel.
  We remember and honor each and every one of these heroes from our 
State and heroes from every State who have given their lives for 
freedom in this post-9/11 world, where we don't know exactly where the 
borders are or who--where the enemy might be at any given time, whether 
they are going to strike at home, where we live, or whether they are 
going to strike far away, where others are representing us and 
defending us. We remember and honor each of them.
  We pray for their families and all who will feel the loss for the 
rest of their lives. We need to now do our part every day to live lives 
worthy of their sacrifice, never taking for granted the freedom and 
security we have because they were called to serve and support it and 
guarantee it for another generation.
  I know I join all my colleagues on both sides of the aisle as we 
think of

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those who are serving today, those who are willing to pay the ultimate 
cost and, particularly today, as we focus on these 13 individuals who 
did pay that price.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Massachusetts.