[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 1]
[House]
[Page 1317]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        REMEMBERING JACK MURTHA

  (Ms. PELOSI asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, today marks the 1-year anniversary of the 
passing of our dear colleague Congressman Jack Murtha of Pennsylvania. 
I rise to pay tribute to him. He was a giant of this Chamber, a 
legislator of unsurpassed talents, a soldier of extraordinary courage, 
a political servant, a public servant to the end. Those of us who 
served with him were honored to call him ``colleague.'' Those of us in 
this body, many of us, were privileged to call him ``friend.'' 
Colleague and friend.
  The outpouring of accolades that came forward at his passing was 
something quite remarkable, and I hope that it was a comfort and has 
been a comfort to his family. Certainly to those of us who worked with 
him, who knew his love of his district, who remember the way he held 
court in the Pennsylvania corner and gave out his blessing and his 
advice, Jack Murtha's wisdom, counsel, and knowledge will continue to 
inspire us all.
  To watch Jack Murtha legislate was to see a master at work. But more 
indicative of his character was to watch him communicate with our men 
and women in uniform, whether near the battlefield or at their bedside. 
He thanked them for their courage and listened to their concerns. He 
always answered their needs, responding to their calls for body armor, 
up-armored vehicles, and reliable radios, among other things. In those 
moments, he bonded with them based on his own personal military 
experiences. He was awarded the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart 
himself.
  I will never forget the sparkle in Jack's eye when he would visit a 
wounded warrior, proudly standing by his bedside wearing a Steelers 
jersey, saluting him.
  The Nation saw Jack's courage on the battlefield and in Congress as 
he spoke out against the war in Iraq. And in doing so, he made the 
distinction between the war and the warrior.
  Always committed to our national defense, forever bound to the cause 
of our national security, Jack Murtha measured the strength of our 
country not only by the might of our military; he also measured it by 
the strength and well-being of our people.
  A much-decorated champion on the battlefield, he was a hero in 
advancing scientific research to fight against breast cancer, prostate 
cancer, diabetes, as well as HIV and AIDS, to name a few.
  Today we remember him, always thinking of ``Semper Fi,'' the motto of 
the Marine Corps where Jack served proudly for 37 years, the motto of 
his life. To the end, he remained ``always faithful'' to God and 
country, to his hometown of Johnstown, and most of all to his wife, 
Joyce, his children, and his grandchildren.
  Patriot. Champion. Hero. Giant. Jack Murtha. We will never see his 
likes again. Again, I hope it is a comfort to his family that this 1 
year later so many of us remember Jack Murtha and pray for his family.

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