[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 1]
[Senate]
[Page 26]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES


                      Lance Corporal Aaron Holland

  Mr. HAGEL. Mr. President, I rise to express my sympathy over the loss 
of Aaron Holland of Columbus, NE, a lance corporal in the U.S. Marine 
Corps. Lance Corporal Holland was killed in a car accident on December 
17, 2004 near Richfield, UT, while returning home to Columbus from his 
second tour of duty in Iraq. He was 21 years old.
  Lance Corporal Holland graduated from Columbus High School and is 
survived by his mother Becky and stepfather Paul Knopick; two 
stepbrothers, Silas and Paul Knopick; grandparents, Lois and Edmund 
Mueller; and uncle, Mark Mueller; all of Columbus. Our thoughts and 
prayers are with them at this difficult time. The United States of 
America is proud of Aaron Holland's service and mourns his loss.
  The 9/11 terrorist attacks on the U.S. fostered Holland's interest in 
a military career and after graduating in 2002, he enlisted in the U.S. 
Marine Corps. After completing his training, he served with the 3rd 
Marine Aircraft Wing stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in 
San Diego, CA. Holland served two tours in Iraq, from February to July 
2003 and from February to August 2004. Lance Corporal Holland will be 
remembered as a loyal marine who had a strong sense of duty, honor, and 
love of country. Thousands of brave Americans like Lance Corporal 
Holland are currently serving in Iraq.
  For his service, bravery and sacrifice, I ask my colleagues to join 
me and all Americans in honoring LCpl Aaron Holland.


                  Private First Class Joshua A. Ramsey

  Mr. BAYH. Mr. President, I rise today with a heavy heart and deep 
sense of gratitude to honor the life of a brave young man who lived in 
Marion, IN as a child. PFC Joshua Ramsey, 19 years old, died on 
December 12 when he was shot while carrying out his duties in Iraq. 
With his entire life before him, Joshua risked everything to fight for 
the values Americans hold close to our hearts, in a land halfway around 
the world.
  After attending Oak Hill Junior High School for the eighth grade, 
Joshua moved to Defiance, OH, where his father and stepmother live. 
Joshua, a 2003 graduate of the Four County Career Center, left a strong 
impression not only on his classmates but his teachers as well. One of 
his high school teachers, Tonya Fisher, shared some memories of her 
former student with the Marion Chronicle Tribune saying, ``He was a 
good student and a good classmate. He worked really hard in class and 
was really dedicated. He knew he wanted to go to the military . . . 
He's very family-oriented. He struggled with leaving his family, but he 
really believed in what he was fighting for.'' Joshua's mother, Joy, 
recalled her son's bravery during a conversation she had with him not 
long ago. He told her, ``Mom, I have one of the most dangerous jobs in 
the Army, but I wouldn't have it any other way.''
  Joshua was the 42nd Hoosier soldier to be killed while serving his 
country in Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was assigned to the 95th 
Military Police Battalion, Mannheim, Germany. This brave young soldier 
leaves behind his mother, Joy; his father, Bruce; and his stepmother, 
LeAnn.
  Today, I join Joshua's family, his friends and the entire Hoosier 
community in mourning his death. While we struggle to bear our sorrow 
over this loss, we can also take pride in the example he set, bravely 
fighting to make the world a safer place. It is his courage and 
strength of character that people will remember when they think of 
Joshua, a memory that will burn brightly during these continuing days 
of conflict and grief.
  Joshua was known for his dedication to others and his love of family 
and country. When looking back on Joshua's life, his grandmother, 
Margaret, told the Marion Chronicle Tribune that he had loved golf, was 
on the wrestling team and ran track. Today and always, Joshua will be 
remembered by family members, friends and fellow Hoosiers as a true 
American hero and we honor the sacrifice he made while dutifully 
serving his country.
  As I search for words to do justice in honoring Joshua's sacrifice, I 
am reminded of President Lincoln's remarks as he addressed the families 
of the fallen soldiers in Gettysburg: ``We cannot dedicate, we cannot 
consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground. The brave men, living and 
dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power 
to add or detract. The world will little note nor long remember what we 
say here, but it can never forget what they did here.'' This statement 
is just as true today as it was nearly 150 years ago, as I am certain 
that the impact of Joshua's actions will live on far longer than any 
record of these words.
  It is my sad duty to enter the name of Joshua Ramsey in the official 
record of the United States Senate for his service to this country and 
for his profound commitment to freedom, democracy and peace. When I 
think about this just cause in which we are engaged, and the 
unfortunate pain that comes with the loss of our heroes, I hope that 
families like Joshua's can find comfort in the words of the prophet 
Isaiah who said, ``He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord 
God will wipe away tears from off all faces.''
  May God grant strength and peace to those who mourn, and may God be 
with all of you, as I know He is with Joshua.

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