[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 17]
[Senate]
[Page 23376]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES


                          Larry W. Pankey, Jr.

  Mr. SALAZAR. Mr. President, I rise today to remember the life and 
sacrifice of a Coloradan who has made us all proud: SGT Larry W. 
Pankey, Jr., of Morrison, CO. Sergeant Pankey was a member of the 467th 
Engineer Battalion, U.S. Army Reserve, based out of Mississippi.
  Sergeant Pankey died earlier this month in support of Operation Iraqi 
Freedom. He was only 34. He died serving this country with courage, 
self sacrifice and dignity, gifts which we as a nation are profoundly 
grateful to receive.
  Sergeant Pankey is not alone in this sacrifice. Across Colorado and 
America, men and women have answered the call and risen on our behalf. 
They have not done so for glory or recognition, but because they share 
the fundamental belief that freedom and liberty are worth fighting for. 
They have come from farms and ranches in places like Colorado's eastern 
plains and apartment buildings in cities like Denver, from living rooms 
and bedrooms and classrooms across this country.
  The sons and daughters of America have stood united to defend our way 
of life and the values that we all share. The call to a service greater 
than their own self interest has motivated them to risk their lives. 
All too often, we are unable to repay them for the sacrifices that they 
make.
  Next month we will recognize Veterans Day. It will be marked by 
patriotic speeches and parades, a solemn recognition of those veterans 
who are still with us and those servicemembers who have been lost. And 
rightfully so. But we should not lose sight of the fact that every day 
there are still families grieving and remembering.
  To Sergeant Pankey's wife and daughter in Morrison and his mother in 
Louisiana, and all of the families and friends left behind in the wake 
of a soldier's death, we can only offer our humble thanks on behalf of 
this Nation. We are forever in your debt and will always remember the 
extraordinary price you have paid on our behalf by offering up your 
sons and daughters. We will keep you in our thoughts and prayers.
  With that in mind, I want to end with a quote from the Bible upon 
which I sometimes reflect when I am thinking about our men and women in 
uniform. Matthew 5:9 reminds us: ``Blessed are the peacemakers: for 
they shall be called the children of God.''
  Right now across the world, the members of our Armed Forces like 
Sergeant Pankey stand watch on our behalf. They are these very 
peacemakers, and their place will always be reserved in our hearts.

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