[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 15]
[House]
[Page 20645]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                          FREEDOM IS NOT FREE

  (Mr. PITTS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, last Friday America lost two of its best and 
brightest. Specialist John Edmunds and PFC Kristofer Stonesifer died as 
their helicopter crashed in Pakistan while supporting a nighttime 
mission. Both of them were assigned to the 75th Ranger Regiment out of 
Fort Benning, Georgia. Both men were committed to excellence.
  Private Stonesifer's ROTC instructor said, ``He wanted to be the best 
soldier in the U.S. Army, and the best soldiers in the Army are in the 
Ranger battalion.''
  On September 11, America was shaken. We learned once again that 
freedom is not free. Freedom of religion, speech, assembly, and press 
were won at the cost of American lives.
  Mr. Speaker, this great Nation is learning once again, to preserve 
these freedoms some brave and dedicated men have to put their lives on 
the line.
  On Friday, Private Stonesifer and Specialist Edmunds paid the 
ultimate cost for our freedom. Every American owes these two Americans 
a debt of gratitude.

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