[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 12259-12260]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   TRIBUTE TO THE WOUNDED WARRIORS AT WALTER REED ARMY MEDICAL CENTER

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. STEVE AUSTRIA

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 27, 2011

  Mr. AUSTRIA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer a tribute poem to the 
brave men and women who were wounded while serving our country--our 
Wounded Warriors at Walter Reed Army Medical Center:

     100 Years . . .
     Throughout all that heartache . . .
     And all those most swollen tears . . .
     And all of that most courageous courage, so seen here . . .
     From battlefields of honor bright!
     From far across those distant shores, those fights . . .
     From deep blue oceans of yore . . .
     And all of those heroes, up in those air wars . . .
     Who on land, air and sea . . .

[[Page 12260]]

     Army, Navy, The Air Force, Coast Guard and the United States 
           Marine Corps . . .
     Have all brought their Brothers and Sisters In Arms, to 
           Walter Reed . . .
     To Heal!
     To rebuild where none lies left!
     With but only their fine hearts to bless . . .
     As it was all here, that they so received . . .
     But The Very Best, at Walter Reed!
     Doctors and Nurses and Therapists, Soldiers and Social 
           Workers on this great list . . .
     Who have but faced the worst, who have but passed that test!
     Cheating death, with but only their most courageous quests . 
           . .
     With years of training and devoting, to complete their most 
           noble of notions!
     But to heal only our very best!
     With only their skills and most courageous hearts, no less . 
           . .
     Against All Odds, they would not rest . . .
     This Battle, Their Valiant Quest, to win that night so yes!
     Day In and Day Out . . .
     As their fine hearts to them, so shout . . .
     Not to give up, nor give in . . .
     For this is how miracles all begin!
     All out here on the cutting edge . . .
     As their fine hearts are but all so pledged . . .
     So pledged, but to heal!
     To an oath so true, so real!
     To Men and Women without arms and legs . . .
     Who without eyes and faces, as to them so pray . . .
     And yet, with the stress of each new day . . .
     How stoically, all of them have made their ways . . .
     But, a thank you is all they ask . . .
     As they've seen all of those Mothers crying . . .
     Out in the halls, with all that pain and heartache . . . 
           asking why then?
     Surely, there is no denying . . .
     Holding a young man's hand, until he lays dying . . .
     As their fine hearts and souls, so trying . . .
     And yet, they go to work each day . . .
     Asking not much more, then to win those battles great . . .
     To save our most precious heroes, all in their light!
     With the Gift of Life, they ask but for one more night!
     As each and all, are but quiet heroes in God's eyes . . .
     As it's in private that they now so cry!
     As they go out all about their jobs each day . . .
     Attention, to themselves, they'll not pay . . .
     As it's to save precious life, for which they pray!
     And when that light once again begins to shine . . .
     They must now draw a new battle line!
     To rebuild . . . to somehow instill . . .
     With Hope, the very will . . . all in a fine hero's heart to 
           live!
     And somehow to start all over again!
     To ready them to rejoin that fight, or to try to start a 
           brand new life . . .
     As it's clear, that they've done as much to help win all 
           those wars!
     At Walter Reed, have come . . .
     Such magnificent men and women, our daughters and sons . . .
     Who to death will not heed!
     All because they so believe!
     All those lives, and all those stories . . .
     And all of those children who'll now know the glory . . .
     That glory of having a Mom and Dad, and who one day may grow 
           up to be . . .
     An Angel, saving lives at Walter Reed!

                          ____________________