[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 15]
[EX]
[Pages 21105-21106]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




       IN HONOR OF THE RETURN OF OUR WOUNDED WARRIORS TO AMERICA

                                  _____
                                 

                     HON. CHARLES W. BOUSTANY, JR.

                              of louisiana

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 15, 2011

  Mr. BOUSTANY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of our wounded 
warriors returning home from abroad. Several times a week, wounded 
American soldiers return to the United States, landing at Andrews Air 
Force Base. Some have short layovers before going to their homes or 
medical facilities around the country. Others remain in the Washington, 
DC, region to get care and recover. Whatever their final destination, I 
ask that our thoughts and prayers go out to the members of our Armed 
Forces and their families.
  Their sacrifices to our nation will never be forgotten. In honor of 
their service and in hopes for their recovery I ask that this poem 
penned by Albert Caswell be placed in the Record.

                              In Honor Now

     In . . .
     In Honor Now!

[[Page 21106]]

     As here we stand so very proud!
     So very proud of all of you so now . . .
     With open arms, as here we stand with hearts so very warm . . 
           . All in our hearts of love, so very full . . . beating 
           loud!
     Waiting all for you!
     Welcome Home!
     As you come down into view . . .
     All as America's most brilliant of all hues!
     Her Armed Forces so very tried and true!
     As all of our hearts so run to you . . .
     Oh can you but not so hear them now!
     Welcome Home!
     With open arms, all in our hearts of love for you so very 
           warm!
     Our most precious of all daughters and sons . . .
     Who are but honor bound, as are all of these ones!
     Who all so stood, for what was good and true!
     While, all in that face . . . of deep dark death and war, as 
           did you!
     Welcome Home!
     As all for God and Country Tis of Thee, you would so die and 
           bleed!
     As you so cried, as they so laid your brothers and sisters 
           down to rest!
     All into that soft cold quiet ground, were but lain all of 
           America's Best so down!
     All in your tears, as we so saw what your love for each other 
           so said!
     And That Blood That Binds You, so ran red!
     All In Such Honor Now, as here we so stand so very proud!
     All in how your fine lives have so read!
     Can you but not so hear all of our hearts for you so pound?
     Welcome Home, now to where you so belong!
     With Open Arms, as here we stand with our love for you so 
           very warm . . .
     So very strong!
     Back home again, with your families as the tears begin . . .
     Whose, fine hearts have so cried . . . and so worried all of 
           the time!
     We pray to end their most restless sleep, and so let them all 
           so find peace!
     For they are but America's Quiet Heroes, The Families as so 
           are all of these!
     Because, all of you and your families' fine lives . . . have 
           but been a song!
     A song of such Faith and Courage!
     One of such Strength In Honor, who this our Nation has so 
           nourished!
     With Open Arms we now so cry, Welcome Home!
     Far from all of that darkness of most dreaded war, and all 
           its grave harm!
     As now, you all can so rest!
     As a time to so rebuild . . . to so replenish, and once again 
           your courage to test!
     As you rebuild with what you have left . . .
     As all our hearts are now so filled, with such love and 
           respect . . . it's now time to heal America's Best!
     For all of you and your families, may our Lord God So Bless . 
           . .
     For you have a new battle now to begin!
     And oh yes, American's finest ones . . . you shall win!
     Welcome Home, for this our Nation you have so blessed!
     As now you wear that most noblest title of them all!
     As an American Hero, whose magnificent hearts upon a 
           battlefield of honor stood tall!
     With . . .
     With Open Arms . . .
     Welcome Home! As to all of you, our hearts so roam!
     In Honor Now, Here We So Stand With Open Arms!
     Welcome Home . . . In Honor Now!

(By Albert Caswell)

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