[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 23]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 31505]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          VETERANS DAY PRAYER

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JOE WILSON

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 13, 2007

  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Madam Speaker, as greatful Americans 
prepare for providing deserved tributes for our courageous veterans, I 
have fortunately been provided a profound poem from Clinton B. Campbell 
of Beauford, SC.

                        My Veteran's Day Prayer

     Lord, when the pull of my bed
     lures me to stay another hour, please remind me of taps being 
           played for the fallen,
     of the tears that reach my cheek
     after each name is read, the ones I know personally
     and the ones old-timers
     talk about in awe.

     After the crowd stumbles
     through The Pledge of Allegiance
     I want to be there
     and listen with all my heart
     while the winner of this year's
     essay contest quiets the crowd
     reminding us of why
     we are paying our respects.

     When the closing prayer is read
     I want to look around in honor
     at my fellow vets,
     the men and the women
     in their timeworn uniforms.
     Let me see them as they were,
     splendidly marching forward
     with the courage that allows us to
     have a choice of whether
     we come here today or not.

                          ____________________