[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 12]
[House]
[Pages 16414-16415]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    A YOUNG MARINE RESTORED MY FAITH

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Pence). Under a previous order of the 
House, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Foley) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. FOLEY. Mr. Speaker, the ``Orange Register'' in California every 
week recognizes a writer who eloquently expresses a viewpoint or 
engenders a debate on a topic of public interest. It is known as the 
Golden Pen Award.
  The title of this letter to the editor of the ``Orange Register,'' 
written by Ann Baker, a real estate agent of Huntington Beach, 
California, is ``A Young Marine Restores My Faith.''
  ``It was our normal Thursday morning business meeting at our real 
estate office. No big deal. Before the meeting, we hung around the 
bagel table, as usual, with our coffee. He stood aside, looking a 
little shy and awkward and very young, a new face in the room full of 
extroverted salespeople. An average looking guy, maybe 5 foot 8 inches. 
A clean-cut, sweet-faced kid. I went over to chat with him. Maybe he 
was a new salesman?
  ``He said he was just back from Kabul, Afghanistan. A Marine. Our 
office (and a local school) had been supportive by sending letters to 
him and other troops, which he had posted at the American Embassy door 
in Kabul. He stood guard there for 4 months and was shot at daily.
  ``He had come to our office to thank us for the support, for all the 
letters during those scary times. I couldn't believe my ears,'' she 
said. ``He wanted to

[[Page 16415]]

thank us? We should be thanking him. But how? How can I ever show him 
my appreciation?
  ``At the end of the sales meeting he stepped quietly forward, no 
incredible hulk. As a matter of fact, he looked all the world 15 years 
old to me.
  ``This young Marine, this clean-faced boy, had no qualms stepping up 
to the plate and dodging bullets so that I may enjoy the freedom to 
live my peaceful life in the land of the free. No matter the risk. 
Suddenly the most stressful concerns of my life seemed as nothing. My 
complacency flew right out the window with his every word. Somewhere, 
somehow, he had taken the words honor, courage and commitment into his 
very soul and laid his life on the line daily for me and us. A man of 
principle. He wants to do it. Relishes it. And he came to thank us? For 
a few letters. I fought back the tears as he spoke so briefly and 
softly.
  ``He walked forward to our manager and placed a properly folded 
American flag in his hands. It had flown over the Embassy in Kabul. He 
said thanks again. You could hear a pin drop. As I looked around, I saw 
red faces everywhere fighting back the tears.
  ``In a heartbeat, my disillusionment with young people today quickly 
vanished. In ordinary homes, in ordinary towns, kids like him are 
growing up proud to be an American and willing to die for it. Wow. We 
will frame the flag and put it in the lobby. He only came to my office 
once, for just a few minutes, but I realize I rubbed shoulders with 
greatness in the flesh and in the twinkling of an eye my life is 
forever changed. His name is Michael Mendez, a corporal in the United 
States Marine Corps. We are a great Nation. We know because the makings 
of it walked into my office that day.''
  That is by Ann Baker of Huntington, California. I think that properly 
summarizes our Nation's respect for the men and women in uniform. We 
take for granted the sacrifices they and their families make to serve 
this country. We assume freedom comes without price at times; and 
September 11, which we rapidly approach, taught us a lesson, that 
America's freedom depends on the strong and vigilant men and women who 
fight our battles for our freedoms and fight for the integrity of this 
Nation.
  Parents who allow their children to enter harm's way for the flag 
that flies behind me do so knowing for the freedom of a Nation men and 
women must offer themselves in sacrifice. Ann Baker's letter touched me 
as well because it signified from an average citizen that she 
recognized that day that that young man, Michael, who came to her 
office, changed her life; but it was also shaping the lives of future 
American leaders.
  We pray for the safety of our troops here and abroad; but we also 
thank those special individuals who have character, who stand up for 
the flag and the Nation and fight the good fight for all Americans.

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