[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 1]
[Senate]
[Page 312]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                TRIBUTE TO LANCE CORPORAL JASON SMEDLEY

  Mrs. LINCOLN. Mr. President, I have some very important guests with 
me today in the Senate. I wanted to share that with my colleagues as 
well as my colleagues across the land.
  I rise today to pay tribute to a young man who is with me today and 
who has served on my staff for the past year, Jason Smedley, of Little 
Rock, AK. We are joined today by his mother and his girlfriend and many 
members of my staff. Jason is a lance corporal in the 4th Civil Affairs 
Group of the U.S. Marine Corps stationed here in Washington, DC.
  On Friday, Jason and his colleagues will depart for the Middle East 
where he will await orders for potential U.S. military action against 
Iraq. Like all of the men and women who serve in our armed forces to 
preserve our liberties and ensure global security, Jason is making a 
tremendous sacrifice in service to his country.
  As a senior at Howard University, Jason is only a few months away 
from completing studies and earning his degree which he plans to earn 
upon his return. He will be leaving behind his 2-year old daughter Isis 
and his parents James and Carolyn Smedley, all of Little Rock, AK.
  For the next few months, Jason is offering his service in a cause 
greater than himself. I know that all of my colleagues and the American 
people join me in honoring Jason and the tens of thousands of men and 
women who, just like him, face similar sacrifices in the coming weeks 
and months.
  From Arkansas alone, as of last week nearly 700 Guardsmen and 
reservists have been activated in support of the war on terrorism and 
for potential action against Iraq. These include troops from Little 
Rock, North Little Rock, Lincoln, Ogden, Ozark, Siloam Springs, Van 
Buren, Fayetteville, Pine Bluff, and Fort Smith. I ask unanimous 
consent that the list of Arkansas units currently activated in support 
of the war on terrorism and potential action against Iraq be printed in 
the Record following my remarks.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  (See exhibit 1.)
  Mrs. LINCOLN. We are proud of each and every one of these men and 
women for their commitment to this country and to each of us. We look 
forward to welcoming them back when their work overseas is done. My own 
father who passed away in October was a veteran of the Korean war. He 
taught me to always respect the great commitment made by our troops in 
fighting to protect our freedoms. Our troops of today's generation 
deserve the same respect.
  During Jason's service to Arkansas as a member of my staff, I have 
appreciated his hard work, as well as his energy and positive attitude. 
I look forward to welcoming him back to my staff as soon as possible. I 
am sure all of my colleagues here will join me in wishing Lance 
Corporal Jason Smedley the best in the months ahead.
  I thank his mother and girlfriend for being here to share that with 
us today. Most importantly, I ask my colleagues, as we enter into the 
challenging months we have before us in this great country, that we 
look not only within ourselves but around us to our immediate family, 
to our extended family, to our Senate family, and to all of those lives 
that are going to be, have been, and will be affected. This is a great 
country. The freedoms we enjoy, the incredible potential that we have 
is right here in people such as Jason Smedley.
  I ask my colleagues to join me as we wish Jason well in his endeavors 
and as he goes to take on whatever his duties may be on behalf of the 
American people. I thank my colleague from New Hampshire for affording 
me the opportunity to salute someone who has meant an awful lot to me 
in my life and in my work and now to me, as an American citizen, and to 
the rest of this great country.
  Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you, especially, to Lance Corporal 
Jason Smedley. We bid you well.
  Thank you, Mr. President.

                               Exhibit 1

       The following units from Arkansas have been activated as of 
     December 31, 2002:
     Army National Guard:
       N. Little Rock, State Area Command, AR Army NG HQ;
       Ft. Smith, 142nd Field Artillery HHB, 2nd Battalion;
       Lincoln, 2-142nd Field Artillery, HHSB, Detachment 1;
       Ogden, 142nd Military Intelligence Battalion Co. A, 
     Detachment 4;
       Ogden, 142nd Military Intelligence Battalion Co. A, 
     Detachment 3;
       Ozark, 142nd Field Artillery Battery C, 2nd Battalion;
       Siloam Springs, 142nd Field Artillery, 2nd Battalion, 
     Battery B;
       Van Buren, 142nd Field Artillery, 2nd Battalion, Battery A;
       West Memphis, 216th Military Police Company Guard Company;
       Little Rock, 149th Medical Company Forward, Detachment 1; 
     and
       Little Rock, State Area Command, AR Army National Guard HQ.
     Army Reserve:
       Fayetteville, 362nd Psychological Ops. Co. EF SPT ELE;
       Fayetteville, 362nd Psychological Ops. OEF SPT ELE 2;
       Little Rock, 431st Civil Affairs Battalion;
       Little Rock, 460 Chemical Brigade, Detachment 1; and
       Pine Bluff, 92nd Chemical Battalion, Detachment 1.
     Air National Guard:
       Little Rock, 189th Airlift Wing; and
       Fort Smith, 189th Airlift Wing.
     Navy Reserves:
       Little Rock, Naval Suport Activity Bahrain, Detachment C.

  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Bunning). The Senator from New Hampshire 
is recognized.
  Mr. GREGG. Mr. President, I join with the Senator from Arkansas in 
thanking her staff member for going to serve our country. We wish him 
good luck and godspeed as he goes forth to protect us.

                          ____________________