[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 11]
[House]
[Page 14872]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO NOAH HARRIS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Deal) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, last Saturday, I attended a 
birthday party in Ellijay, Georgia. It was not an ordinary birthday 
party. The honoree, Lieutenant Noah Harris, was not physically present. 
He had been killed in Iraq the week before. But his spirit engulfed all 
of us as we celebrated the life of this extraordinary young man.
  I first met Noah Harris several years ago when he served as an intern 
in my Washington office. I had been told that he was something special, 
and after meeting him, I certainly knew that was true. To become a 
State wrestling champion, an outstanding football player, the leading 
actor in his school drama and a Presidential Scholar requires someone 
special. To be a friend to people from all walks of life, to excel in 
everything that he undertook, to dare to dream big dreams takes someone 
special.
  After September 11, 2001, Noah Harris, who was a senior, in his 
senior year in college at the University of Georgia, wanted to join the 
Army ROTC program. He was told that that was normally too late to 
qualify, but because of his outstanding credentials, he was accepted 
and was later commissioned as a second lieutenant.
  As we attended the ceremony and listened to his commanding officer 
who told a story of the fact that he had understood that this young man 
was the captain of the cheerleader squad at the University of Georgia, 
he decided to pick on him for hand-to-hand combat, not knowing until 
the day of his funeral that he had been the State wrestling champion. 
Needless to say, this champion wrestler soon taught his commanding 
officer with a wink and a smile that you just do not pick on 
cheerleaders.
  In Iraq, Lieutenant Noah Harris was proud of what he and his buddies 
were doing. He loved the children of Iraq. And he soon started 
distributing Beanie Babies to them. His niece, in her school back in 
the States, started a program to raise money to buy Beanie Babies to 
send to Noah, and he would distribute them to the children in Iraq.

                              {time}  2310

  That program continues today.
  To lose your only son a few days before his 24th birthday is a heavy 
burden for any parent. But last Saturday, Lucy and Rick Harris 
celebrated the life of their son with friends who had known Noah as he 
was growing up. We were given replicas of his dog tag and a special 
sticker that I hold now. I am told that it translates, ``We all love 
Iraq.''
  His mother says that Noah would say the words and the Iraqis would 
laugh probably because of his Southern accent. As I approached Ellijay, 
Georgia last Saturday, there were yellow ribbons on both sides of the 
road as far away as 20 miles out. It was a time for a small rural 
community in the mountains of north Georgia to celebrate the life of a 
unique young man.
  They had watched him grow up. They had celebrated his achievements, 
and they were part of the mold that had shaped his life, and they were 
proud.
  We all were proud to have been touched by Noah Harris. His spirit 
will live on in the lives of all of us.
  To his parents, Lucy and Rick Harris, I extend my appreciation for 
the example that they have set and for the service their son gave to 
our country. Noah Harris is a true patriot. His courage, his self-
discipline, and his compassion should be the standard for all of us. 
His was a life well lived. May his soul rest in peace.

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