[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 6]
[Senate]
[Page 8214]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 TRIBUTE TO STAFF SERGEANT JOSE PEQUENO

  Ms. AYOTTE. Mr. President, I rise today in honor of a real American 
Hero, SSG Jose Pequeno of my home State of New Hampshire, and his 
steadfast family. After leaving the U.S. Marines, Jose became one of 
the youngest police chiefs in the State of New Hampshire. After 9/11, 
he joined the U.S. Army, and heroically volunteered to go to Iraq. 
Following an IED explosion, Jose was almost mortally wounded, but 
fought to live. Now, with the help of his mother and family he 
continues that battle. This coming Memorial Day weekend, I ask all of 
us to remember the many servicemen and women and their families who 
have sacrificed so much for us. As each of our servicemen and women and 
their families teach us daily about faith and courage, I ask Americans 
to pray and remember their sacrifice, which continues to ensure our 
freedom is secure.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that this poem penned by 
Albert Caswell be printed in the Record in honor of all those brave men 
and women we have lost.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record as follows:

                            Heaven So Hold's

     Jose. . . .
     Heaven . . .
     Jose, Heaven . . . so hold's . . .
     Heaven, so hold's your place!
     For Heaven, is so made . . . so made . . .
     All for such men as you Jose, of such splendid grace!
     All for such magnificent men, of `oh so such courageous 
           faith!
     Who have such brilliant eyes, which to all hearts such warmth 
           do so bathe . . .
     Who but once had such strong arms, hands and legs, to protect 
           all of us from such harm . . .
     Who once, upon them . . . so such great burdens were so 
           placed!
     Whose entire life has been written with such kindness and 
           courage, that time cannot so erase . . .
     And so show us all, just what a magnificent heart can so 
           create!
     Whose whole entire life has but been so dedicated, to but 
           protecting the human race . . .
     Who so gave, and so marched off to war . . .
     And came back home to wear a badge, and so much more . . .
     And then to serve once again, to give it all up again and go 
           back to war . . .
     To volunteer, and give up all that you so love and so adore!
     For there can be no greater gift! No greater love than all of 
           this for sure . . .
     To so leave your loved ones, and give up all that you adore!
     And yes, Jose, Heaven SO Hold's Your Place!
     Ah yes Jose, one day you will so see our Lord's face . . .
     And all of those magnificent families . . . like yours
     Who had to so worry, and so wait!
     Quiet heroes, who had to carry on somehow each day . . .
     Praying, not for that one phone call, did they!
     Living through, all of that pain and hell and heartache!
     For all of them, oh yes yours, Heaven So Hold's A Place!
     For they shall too so see, our Lord's face . . .
     And, when you came back home Jose, that day . . .
     And they so looked upon your once golden face . . .
     And so saw what this war had so made!
     And they broke down and began to cry!
     As they so asked our Lord, why so why?
     As they so wept . . . all on that night
     But, some things can be only made with faith!
     Because Jose, you so made the choice . . .
     As it was you Jose, who so heard that inner voice!
     As your loved ones too, have so brought their light!
     As upon their needs, they asked for courage . . . on high . . 
           .
     Is that but not what Heaven is for?
     Is that but not true love for sure?
     For Heaven So Holds A Place, for all of those who have shown 
           such grace!
     Who, will not give up, or in . . . even though each day the 
           worst they so face . . .
     Yes, Heaven Holds Your Place!
     Amen!

                          ____________________