[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 16]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 22860]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        WHEN, IN HEARTS AS FOUND

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                             HON. ZACH WAMP

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 25, 2008

  Mr. WAMP. Madam Speaker, this poem was written to honor a great 
American patriot, Sue Downes of Claiborne County, Tennessee.

                        When, In Hearts As Found

     When, In Hearts As Found! Such things as so astounds . . . 
           When all else fails, as when courage comes to crest . . 
           . when heard in ones heart such sounds! Beating . . . 
           beating all in ones chest so now . . . Are but all 
           those heroes, magnificent's who so wear that crown . . 
           .

     That crown worn of Hero so now . . . Who must so rebuild 
           their lives, someway . . . somehow . . . Whose greats 
           hearts do so astound, as does so one so Susan Downes!

     While, marching off to war . . . Leaving behind, all that she 
           so loved and adored . . . But for her family and sweet 
           country tis of thee, as was her burden bore . . . who 
           could but ask for more?

     With her two strong legs so lost . . . Is that not what 
           heaven is for? Paying such a great price, such a cost . 
           . . this her albatross . . . As she came home, and her 
           courageously fine heart would not so be lost!

     For in this war . . . Unlike, none before . . . women have 
           all given so much more! All at the ready . . . all out 
           in front ever steady while on the hunt, for our freedom 
           to so insure . . .

     But, in life . . . There are new battles, and new wars . . . 
           Only won by heart's of gold so fine and pure, that 
           which so touch us all with their sacrifice all the more 
           . . . Building day by day, passing heartache's way . . 
           . lifting up her head . . . This Magnificent Force . . 
           .

     In Susan Downes . . . In what was lost, we so see in life . . 
           . against all odds, what so can be found! When Courage 
           Crests, as her faith does us so bless . . . when but 
           the best of all heart's so astounds . . .

     Could we, would we? Ever find the such strength to go off to 
           war, then come back home and fight one more? To rebuild 
           where none lies left, without arms or legs . . . not to 
           cry or beg, to so touch our Lord!

     Some people, are put upon this earth . . . So sent down from 
           our Lord above, to but teach us all above faith's true 
           fine worth! To Teach Us To Reach Us, To So Touch All 
           Our Hearts . . . inside all of our souls here first!

     Against all odds! When, all the chips are down . . . only 
           where heart's of faith so found . . . In such courage 
           now, do our hearts astound . . . all in Heroes like Sue 
           Downes! In Hearts As Found!

  Susan Downes was a gunner in Afghanistan. She is an F4 in The United 
States Army. She lost both her feet and part of her legs in an IED 
explosion. She is from Tazewell, Tennessee, is married to her husband 
Gabriel, and they have two wonderful children named Austin and Alexis.

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