[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 6] [Extensions of Remarks] [Pages 8950-8951] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]SGT. LUKE SHIRLEY AND SPECIALIST JOSHUA SHIRLEY ______ HON. TIM MAHONEY of florida in the house of representatives Tuesday, May 13, 2008 Mr. MAHONEY of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor two soldiers and brothers, Sgt. Luke Shirley and Specialist Joshua Shirley of LaBelle, Florida. Sgt. Luke Shirley and Specialist Joshua Shirley bravely served their country in Iraq when Luke was severely injured by a land mine in December 2007. Upon returning home, Joshua received orders to return to Iraq. Joshua felt he could best serve his brother and his country by helping his brother and fellow soldier, Luke, recover and petitioned to stay in the United States. The Department of the Army reassigned Specialist Joshua Shirley to a post in the Washington, DC area to allow him to be close to his recovering brother. Sgt. Luke Shirley's courage in battle and Specialist Joshua Shirley's devotion to his brother and his country exemplify what it is to be true American heroes. These brave young men put their lives on the line to serve our country. America owes them a debt of gratitude. On behalf of LaBelle, the 16th District, and the United States, I would like to express my immense gratitude to Sgt. Luke Shirley and Specialist Joshua Shirley. Madam Speaker, please join me in honoring these remarkable young men. Below is a poem written by Bert Caswell to honor the Shirley Brothers. The Book of Luke The Book of Luke . . . Written by a fine young Man, of Character, Courage, Honor and Truth! Who went off to war, as had all his fine family of patriots . . . so many times as before. It's all about a family. . . . Who but for, God and Country. . . . so much pain and heartache endured! All for Our Freedom to ensure, as what they have given. . . . all in their living, they bore! Luke, an Army Man. . . . Who as one fine warrior, of strength in honor . . . and character does stand! As him and his brother Josh too, both were on their third tours. . . . as together they would band! When, in The Face of Death! With, only but an arm and leg so left . . . he would stand . . . all in this his most heroic quest! To rebuild, as his heart to all so instills . . . of what is good, is great . . . of what is best! For in him, there are no regrets! Not looking back, for in life it's only about what you do in your short time . . . in those pages you have left! As he has our Nation so blessed, as his soul to our's does so caress! [[Page 8951]] As this book he so writes . . . To all hearts so invites, for us to look into our own live's . . . between what's wrong, and is right! To so find in this world, what it is which burns bright . . . and what really counts, on this very night! Chapter and Verse! What have the words, of our lives so versed? What have we so written, which so comes first? For it's only the few, who have so who . . . have written and so shined so too . . . that for Heaven does search! For we write the words, that our Lord and his Angels have read and so heard . . . which burn bright! Found in all of our lives of courage, faith and sacrifice . . . are inspiration, touching all souls here tonight. When, all is said and done . . . in what's really to be won when we leave this light! Could we but write? With our hearts and our souls, such a courageous fight . . . to march off into the dark, to leave the light! To go off to war, for your country . . . such heartache and burdens bore . . . and rebuild, with no hope in sight! In The Book of Luke, he has spoken . . . Of chapters of faith he's invoking, of character and courage spoken . . . all in his actions invoking . . . Of an American Hero, A Tale of Hope then . . . and Inspiration, To Teach our children, worth quoting! The Heart! The greatest of all things, which can not so be stopped nor so broken! Which pound's, with his words of faith, courage and hope then, in The Book of Luke he has spoken! In honor of Luke Shirley, and his brother Josh both in The United States Army . . . who came home with him to help him heal, and their family of generations who have fought for our country and given so much throughout the generations so we could live free. . . . Their uncles, Dwight Harris Williams Jr., Kenneth Wayne Williams, John Dennis Williams were all Marines and did tours in Vietnam. ____________________