[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 11761]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


IN HONOR'S LIGHT, IN HONOR OF THE PRESENTATION OF THE MEDAL OF HONOR ON 
JULY 12, 2011, RANGER SGT. 1ST CLASS LEROY PETRY, 75TH RANGER REGIMENT, 
                         THE UNITED STATES ARMY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. GEOFF DAVIS

                              of kentucky

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 21, 2011

  Mr. DAVIS of Kentucky. Mr. Speaker, on May 26, 2008, Sgt. 1st Class 
Leroy Petry of Sante Fe, New Mexico, while on his 8th tour of duty in 
both Iraq and Afghanistan and in the midst of a firefight, 
distinguished himself conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity above 
and beyond the call of duty. Ranger Sgt. Leroy Petry lost his right 
hand and suffered severe wounds after picking up a live grenade and 
throwing it away from his fellow soldiers, thereby saving the lives of 
his comrades. He also was wounded in both legs and in the midst of the 
battle tied tourniquets to his legs and arm. Today we honor this great 
American Hero and the many like him with the presentation of The Medal 
of Honor to him at The White House by President Barack Obama. I ask 
that this poem penned in his honor by Albert Caswell, be placed in the 
Record.

                            In Honor's Light

     In . . .
     In the battle, but comes the light!
     From out of such darkness, so very bright!
     All between life and death, that which so ignites! So 
           brilliant, and so very bright!
     To lead the way, to win that fight! To save their Brother In 
           Arms, its height!
     While, forsaking one's own most precious life! Shining there, 
           all in their most heroic glare so bright!
     Leading the way, all in what they so gave so right! All In 
           Honor's Light!
     For, from only out of one's soul . . . Can but only such 
           brilliance, so flow!
     Can but only such light but shine so!
     When, who lives . . ., or dies? And who but lives to see 
           another sunrise?
     When, it all so depends on you! Such Splendid Splendor, Such 
           God-like Light!
     Which, bring's such tears to even The Angels eyes! All in 
           such selfless sacrifice!
     While, bathed all In Honor's Light! Goodness! Evil! Darkness! 
           Light!
     Those Brave Hearts, Who Evil Must Fight! Who so shine, who 
           but bring their light!
     All In Honor's Light!
     Moments! Are all we have! When, it all so depends on you!
     When, death but lies so very close! As when you Leroy, so 
           rose to such new heights!
     Ranger, all in your most brilliant light! As it all so came 
           shining through!
     All in valor's most magnificent hue! For what child will now 
           be born?
     For which love's, will so live on?
     Who might change the world, or rise . . . all In Honor's 
           Height!
     Sgt. 1st Class Petry, All because you! When, All In Honor and 
           Death . . .
     What your fine heart, so pledged!
     For what was right and what is true! 'Ah yes, Ranger's lead, 
           Leroy as so did you!
     All for our nation, and that old Red, White and Blue!
     All for your Brothers In Arms, as your most courageous heart 
           so grew!
     All in, Your Most Magnificent Hue! All In Honor's Light, So 
           Very True!
     As why this day Ranger Petry, you so shine so true!
     With all of those other magnificent's . . .
     Who now so who, have so shown All Honor's Light so too!
     As this Medal of Honor, we now bestowed upon You!
     All In Honor's Light! This hue!
     OOO-AH!
     --by Albert Carey Caswell.

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