[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 163 (Tuesday, September 21, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H4559-H4560]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           NICOLE GEE EULOGY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
California (Mr. McClintock) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. McCLINTOCK. Madam Speaker, every American knows the image of 
George Washington crossing the Delaware, the fallen rifleman at 
Gettysburg, and the marines raising the flag at Iwo Jima. Our history 
is punctuated with moments of individual heroism and virtue so profound 
and moving that they live forever in the memories of our countrymen and 
the proud story of our country.
  To these iconic images, history has now added another: that of a 
young marine sergeant in full combat gear cradling a helpless infant in 
her arms amidst the unfolding chaos and peril in the besieged Kabul 
Airport and proclaiming: ``I love my job.''
  The entire story of the war in Afghanistan is told in this picture: 
the sacrifices borne by young Americans who volunteered to protect 
their country from international terrorism, the heroism of those who 
serve their country even when their country failed them, the idealism 
of a generation that tried to bring enlightened modernity to an 
afflicted society, and, most of all, the stark contrast between good 
and evil, tyranny and freedom, barbarity and justice, and brutality and 
mercy.
  Above all others, this is the image that describes it all. It is 
given power and immortality by the spirit of the young woman in this 
photo, Marine Sergeant Nicole Gee. Through the ages to come, this 
picture will speak of the sacrifice of blood and treasure of 20 years 
of struggling and of the vision, hope, liberty, justice, and humanity 
that summoned patriots like Nicole Gee to leave their homes and 
families and place themselves in harm's way on the other side of the 
world. As Shakespeare put it: ``This story shall the good man teach his 
son.'' Historians looking back on this age will find its story 
summarized in this single picture and illustrated in the life, dreams, 
and ultimate sacrifice of Nicole Gee.
  They will note that her life ended just days after this photo was 
taken at the age of just 23 years. They will remember that this angelic 
young lady was cut down with 12 of her brothers and sisters by 
incarnate, insensate evil. They will ponder where that young life might 
have led.
  That is an important question, and the answer is known to all who 
knew her. She could have done anything she wanted. She was married to 
her high school sweetheart, 4.1 GPA at Oakmont High School, ``one 
pretty badass marine,'' as her sister put it. She could have done 
anything she wanted, and what she wanted most was to serve her country 
and to serve humanity.
  Who else but a guardian angel amidst the chaos and violence of those 
last days in Kabul could look beyond all that and look into the eyes of 
an infant and proclaim: ``I love my job''?
  Speaking of the fallen heroes of past wars, James Michener asked the 
haunting question: Where do we get such men?
  Well, here is the answer: We get such men and women from little towns 
across America like Roseville, California. They leave their family and 
friends in pursuit of the highest virtues of which human beings are 
capable, and they do it because their country asks them and because it 
is noble.
  I don't know how to offer condolences to Nicole's family, to her 
husband, Jarod; her father, Rick; her sister, Misty; and her family and 
friends. The loss they bear is beyond my comprehension. I can only 
offer my awe and gratitude that humanity has within itself a small band 
of brothers and sisters like Nicole Gee; for without them, America, 
that ``last best hope of mankind on this Earth,'' would not be 
possible.
  A few steps from here in the rotunda is a fresco called The 
Apotheosis of Washington. It depicts General Washington in uniform 
ascending to the heavens flanked by Victory and Freedom and surrounded 
by the essence and fruits of a free nation. And in that depiction, 
Washington beckons.
  From little towns like Roseville, California, decent young men and 
women with promising futures like Nicole Gee have answered. I don't 
know how their families can bear it, but I do know that we owe them. 
Before her father left the stage at a community memorial, he had one 
request. He pleaded:

[[Page H4560]]

``Never forget her please, never forget her.''
  We can never repay that debt except to honor her memory, keep her 
sacrifice always in mind, and to draw inspiration from her dedication 
and devotion to God and country--to all those who sacrificed everything 
``to proclaim liberty throughout all the land and unto all the 
inhabitants thereof.''

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