[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 5]
[Senate]
[Page 7447]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES


                   Lance Corporal Christopher S. Meis

  Mr. BENNET. Madam President, today I pay tribute to a young 
Coloradan, LCpl Christopher S. Meis, who died on March 17, 2011, from 
wounds he received while supporting combat operations in Helmand 
Province, Afghanistan. He was 20 years old. The loss of Lance Corporal 
Meis weighs heavily on his hometown of Bennett, CO, where he grew up 
dreaming of serving his country as a marine.
  According to his mother, Lance Corporal Meis set his mind to becoming 
a soldier in the eighth grade. He always preferred the Marines, she 
says, because of its distinct reputation for rigor and excellence. 
Lance Corporal Meis enlisted in January 2010 after graduating from 
Bennett High School. He served a tour of duty in Afghanistan in support 
of Operation Enduring Freedom, earning numerous decorations.
  He was a machine gunner in the 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine 
Division, based at Camp Lejeune, NC. This post situated Lance Corporal 
Meis on the front lines of battle in Afghanistan, which for him meant 
an opportunity to contribute. His mother said that, when he called 
home, he spoke of his readiness for action and commitment to ``making a 
difference.'' He told his family that he ultimately wanted to pursue 
the Marine Corps as a career.
  Lance Corporal Meis's bravery and exemplary service quickly won the 
recognition of his commanding officers. He earned, among other 
decorations, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan 
Campaign Medal, and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. Just 3 
weeks before his passing, he received a promotion to lance corporal.
  His record as a soldier exhibits America's proudest traditions of 
valor, commitment to duty, and strength of character. To his family, he 
will be remembered as a dedicated son and brother. For Lance Corporal 
Meis, family and duty sometimes took the same form. By putting on the 
uniform, he followed his two grandfathers in a proud family tradition 
of service in the Armed Forces. His paternal grandfather served in 
World War II, and his maternal grandfather retired from the Air Force.
  Mark Twain once said, ``The fear of death follows from the fear of 
life. A man who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.'' Lance 
Corporal Meis's service was in keeping with this sentiment--by 
selflessly putting country first, he lived life to the fullest. He 
lived with a sense of the highest honorable purpose.
  I stand with the citizens of Colorado and across our country in 
profound gratitude for Lance Corporal Meis's tremendous sacrifice. In 
Afghanistan, he fought with unwavering courage to protect America and 
her citizens, and for his service he will forever be remembered as one 
of our bravest. To honor those who survived him, I ask my colleagues to 
join me in extending our deepest respects and condolences to Holly, his 
mother, Chris, his father, Hunter, his brother, and to his entire 
family.

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