[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 5]
[House]
[Page 6030]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                HONORING FIRST LIEUTENANT ROBERT COLLINS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Westmoreland) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart and a humble 
spirit that I come today to this People's House, to this floor of the 
People's House to honor an American hero.
  Mr. Speaker, First Lieutenant Robert Collins answered his Nation's 
call to duty after graduating from West Point Military Academy in 2008. 
And earlier this month he made the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of his 
fellow countrymen. Lieutenant Collins was deployed to Iraq only last 
fall, and was based with his unit in the northern part of the country.
  Lieutenant Collins recently wrote that he was working to improve 
security conditions and the quality of life for the Iraqi people. In 
this year's national elections in Iraq, his platoon helped provide 
security for a free and fair election process, and I know that he took 
great pride in that.
  He was a man willing and ready to serve his country. As a dedicated 
soldier, he wanted to help spread far and wide the same freedom we love 
and cherish here in the United States. Lieutenant Collins' willingness 
to help others came as no surprise to anyone who knew him. A native of 
Tyrone, Georgia, and a graduate of Sandy Creek High School, he was well 
respected among his peers. In fact, one former classmate wrote that 
Collins ``was compassionate and at the same time had a great sense of 
humor that could not be matched. Robert would always be there for 
people when they needed help.''
  His parents, Deacon and Sharon, are both retired lieutenant colonels. 
They proudly served our Nation, and they proudly supported their son's 
decision to serve our country. While we honor Lieutenant Collins, we 
should also think of Deacon and Sharon. Lieutenant Collins was also 
blessed to have Nicole, his fiancee, and childhood sweetheart.
  Last week Lieutenant Collins came home to Georgia for the last time, 
and his community came out to honor him. From local veterans to 
ordinary citizens, the procession route was lined with people waving 
American flags and paying their great respect to this hero. One 
gentleman summed it up best when he said, ``I am a patriot. Anyone who 
gives up their life for my freedom, well, this is the least I can do.''
  Today I stand here to honor First Lieutenant Robert Collins because 
it was the least I could do. He stood for me and all Americans by 
serving and sacrificing to our Nation, and he is an American hero. I 
want to thank him from me and my family and the generations to come. 
And I also want to thank his loving parents for the sacrifice that they 
have given to this great Nation.

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