[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 12398-12399]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    HONORING UNITED STATES MARINE LANCE CORPORAL CODY JAMES ELLIOTT

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. LOIS CAPPS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 28, 2011

  Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor 21-year-old United 
States Marine Lance Corporal Cody James Elliott of Pismo Beach, 
California. On June 12, 2011, while out on patrol, LCPL Elliott ran to 
help his Brother in Arms, Josh McDaniels, who had been injured in an 
IED explosion. While en route to his fallen comrade--without regard for 
his own safety--LCPL Elliott was severely wounded by another IED 
explosion. Every day, magnificent men such as Cody shine on the 
battlefields of honor, bringing their light of heroism and selflessness 
to the darkness of war--making us all proud to be Americans. In the 
blast, LCPL Cody lost his left leg, broke his tibia in his right leg, 
and lost one of his fingers. In just a few short weeks, he has come a 
long way in dealing with his wounds and is moving full speed towards 
recovery. With the help of his family, he continues to recover and show 
us what it means to bravely serve our country. I ask that this poem 
penned in his honor by Albert Caswell be placed in the Congressional 
Record.

                               Run To Me

                          (By Albert Caswell)

     Run . . .
     Run to me . . .
     On battlefields of honor bright . . .
     There are but all of those who so carry the fight!
     All with their most magnificent light! To win that day, to 
           that night!
     Who so shine, all in their most sacrificial light . . .
     Who for all of their Brothers In Arms, are but so ready to 
           die!

[[Page 12399]]

     All in the blood that binds them, this most sacrificial tie!
     Which brings such tears to the Angel's eyes!
     As it was on the day in June, when Cody you so ran . . . as 
           your heart so swooned!
     As your Brother Josh lay dying, as you ran to him . . . not 
           asking why then!
     All in your most magnificent shades of green, oh yea you 
           United States Marine!
     As when that bomb went off, as you lie there in all its cost 
           . . .
     All in what you had given, all in what you had lost!
     As the tears rolled down your face, all in what this war had 
           brought!
     As up ahead but lie a new front . . .
     Only twenty-one years old, and barely hanging on . . .
     As it was then there you so saw you had a choice!
     As you told yourself, get up Marine . . . while listening to 
           your most inner voice!
     As from deep down within, but came such a force!
     As now Cody, your new life would so begin . . .
     With that first step, all in that pain and heartache which 
           lie so up ahead . . .
      As somehow, you lifted up your fine head and so said!
     I did not die, I am not dead! As you so chose to feel that 
           wind upon your face . . .
     All for your Fallen Brothers, all in your heart they now so 
           hold such a special place!
     For you've got a life to live, as now you picked up the pace!
     A life to lead, as it's now Cody you've so chosen to move at 
           light speed!
     For you are a United States Marine, all in what your recovery 
           has so seen . . .
     You see, people like you Cody . . . so give to us all what we 
           so need!
     Because, You So Teach Us! And You So Beseech Us!
     As so deep down inside, You So Reach Us!
     With all of your most courageous faith, You So Speak To Us 
           Out On Our Ways!
     For you will run, and you will breathe . . . and oh yea Cody 
           you will so succeed!
     And if I ever, I so have a son . . . I pray that he may be as 
           courageous as you 
           my son . . .
     Whose heart to me so runs! Because, Cody in heaven you need 
           not arms or legs, and that's where you are going one 
           day . . .
     And, you will hear our Lord so say, ``Cody, Run To Me!''
     All for what you gave, Run To Me!

                          ____________________