[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 12085]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




MOURN THE LOSS, RECOGNIZE THE SACRIFICE, AND ULTIMATELY, CELEBRATE THE 
                     LIVES OF THREE AMERICAN HEROES

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DARLENE HOOLEY

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 14, 2004

  Ms. HOOLEY of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to mourn the loss, 
recognize the sacrifice, and ultimately, celebrate the lives of three 
American heroes.
  These three men, Lt. Erik McCrae, Sergeant Justin Eyerly, and 
Specialist Justin Linden, were ours. To Oregonians, they were--they 
remain--a part of us.
  They chose to answer the call of their nation. Each of them 
understood the sacred duty of military service--they knew the special 
bond formed by soldiers under arms--and they died fulfilling that duty 
with honor.
  Today, tomorrow, and the days that follow--we are and will be less 
without them. Unfortunately, their loss means that our community will 
never reach the potential it once could have.
  As we have proven countless times, Oregon and the Nation will go on 
and we will succeed. But we will never forget their sacrifice. Their 
investment was, is, and will remain--invaluable.
  These brave men died because they selflessly chose to charge into 
harms way to aid strangers in a foreign land that are struggling for 
freedom. Erik, Justin, and Justin entered combat with full knowledge 
that their act of duty might well require the last full measure--but 
they did it anyway.
  Although our hearts are filled with anger, frustration, and pain--we 
must try and remember that these young men lived and died for love: for 
love of their family, for love of their community, for love of their 
country, and for love of freedom.
  We must turn this loss into something worthy of their sacrifice; we 
must each find ways every day to remember Lt. Erik McCrae, Sergeant 
Justin Eyerly, and Specialist Justin Linden, and the sacrifice they 
made in the name of freedom, so that they will never be forgotten.

                          ____________________