[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 18]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 24735-24736]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                ON THE PASSING OF SENATOR EDWARD KENNEDY

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. JESSE L. JACKSON, JR.

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 13, 2009

  Mr. JACKSON of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my 
condolences to the family and friends of one of my most prestigious 
colleagues, Senator Edward M. Kennedy.
  Senator Kennedy lived one of the most extraordinary lives in American 
political history. He was the last brother of one of America's most 
storied families; one of our all-time great senators; and a champion 
for human rights. His legislative accomplishments have touched and 
improved the lives of virtually everyone who lived in this great 
country for the past half a century.
  Albert C. Caswell approached me shortly after Senator Kennedy's 
funeral with a poem he wrote titled, ``Our Nation's Tears''. My 
colleagues may recognize Mr. Caswell's familiar face as he has served 
as a Tour Guide in the U.S. Capitol for the past 23 years. I was moved 
by Mr. Caswell's poem and he has asked that I submit it in the 
Congressional Record. I ask unanimous consent to add my statement and 
his poem to the Congressional Record and I encourage my colleagues to 
read it.

                           Our Nation's Tears

                       (By Albert Carey Caswell)

     Our . . .
     Our Nation's Tears . . .
     As so now lie here!
     For one of America's finest son's, this oh so cherished one . 
           . .
     A Champion, for Fathers, Mothers, Sisters, Brothers, 
           Daughters and Sons. . .
     For Seniors, and our most precious of all ones . . . our 
           Children . . .
     For America, and all of these ones!
     Our Lion of The Senate Ted, so very dear . . .
     As it's for or thee, we now so shed such tears . . .
     As down our quivering cheeks they now so run!
     All for you Ted, and your great American family my son . . .
     And that great love story, that our Lord God had so begun!
     And that great Irish family, that came from far across those 
           seas . . .
     But, for a better life to be . . .
     And that great void now so left, as upon our souls as now so 
           etched . . .
     And that great hole in all our hearts, this abyss . . .
     Ah, but lies such depth . . .
     All in this great caesium, with us you have so left . . .
     For this our nation, our Teddy bear . . . you have so 
           blessed!
     As our tears fall like the rains . . .
     As it's for you Teddy, we now so cry out all in our pain . . 
           .
     As comes from our swollen eyes . . .
     As it's for or you, our shining Knight. . . we now so weep . 
           . .
     For in our heart's, you . . . we shall so keep!
     As we pray to our Lord above, that your soul he shall so 
           reap!
     For our True Champion, has so died!
     As like Your Profile's in Courage, we too must so rise!
     As you have so taught our nation, so over the many years . . 
           .
     That out of such loss, such heartache . . . and such swollen 
           tears . . .
     That somehow, light too can come!
     And that somehow, we must all so persevere!
     With A Smile, With A Grin . . .
     With The Heart of A Child, and a work ethic so then!
     And to cherish each new day, as it begins!
     And make each new day count! Time and time, and time again!
     And hold your families ever so close!
     For this is life's full measure, that which so means the 
           most!
     Sail on my Son! We will hear your heart on the ocean's 
           setting sun's . . .
     Our beautiful brother from Boston!
     For Heaven so hold's a place, for our most precious one!
     For such men, of such courage, kindness, style and grace . . 
           .
     And who have worked and prayed for redemption, in all they've 
           faced!
     And live by such undying Faith!
     Of such men so bright, who have all our heart's so bathed in 
           all their light . . .
     As the baby bore the load, lesson's learned . . . profiles in 
           courage he so earned . . .
     How, Teddy raised his head each day. . . was but a lesson for 
           all of us to stay!
     To take heart, to take pause . . . all in your pain, and 
           remember his life cause . . .
     To remember his smile, and ever his heart of a child . . .
     And that up in Heaven on this day . . .
     Four brothers are so reunited, in a football game . . .
     ``And remember, that the work goes on!''
     ``The cause endures!''
     ``The hope still lives!''
     ``And the dream shall never die!''

[[Page 24736]]

     Ted, our most precious one . . . can you but not in Heaven 
           hear my son?
     All of Our Nation's swollen tears, these ones!
     And for you, our Nation cry!

       In loving memory of Senator Edward Kennedy, May our Lord 
     bless you our warm son, and your family.

                          ____________________