[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 9509]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  TRIBUTE TO PRIVATE JESSICA LYNCH ON NATIONAL FORMER PRISONER OF WAR 
                            RECOGNITION DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. NICK J. RAHALL II

                            of west virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, April 9, 2003

  Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to America's 
heroes on National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day.
  The holiday is all the more poignant this year. This year the world 
celebrated the rescue of POW Private Jessica Lynch from an Iraqi 
hospital. This brave West Virginia woman fought capture as she watched 
her comrades die next to her. West Virginians are especially proud of 
the rescue of one of our own and proud of the troops, including some of 
West Virginia's own National Guard, who went in to save her. We are 
particularly grateful of West Virginia Air National Guard Major Harry 
Morgan Freeman Jr. of Chapmanville who helped deliver the SEALs to the 
hospital where Lynch was held and then flew the group to safety. This 
was a truly remarkable moment for West Virginia's service men and 
women.
  We may never know all the details of the ordeal Private Lynch endured 
while held in Iraqi captivity. Like so many POWs before her, not only 
are the physical wounds to heal but mental and spiritual. As Americans, 
it is our duty to welcome back these heroes who fought for our freedom. 
We must give all of our returned POWs the support they require and 
deserve and share with them our pride in their sacrifice to the Nation. 
We give thanks to God for the return of our POWs and ask Him to watch 
over our soldiers and our Nation.

                          ____________________