[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 15666]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               HONORING AN AMERICAN HERO: SFC CEDRIC KING

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                         HON. RENEE L. ELLMERS

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 10, 2013

  Mrs. ELLMERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor one of North 
Carolina's most heroic sons: Airborne Ranger SFC Cedric King of The 
United States Army.
  On July 25, while out on patrol during his third tour, SFC King 
nearly lost his life in an IED explosion in Azickzia Afghanistan. After 
losing both of his legs and sustaining numerous other life-threatening 
injuries, Cedric has in so many ways come back from the dead. In just a 
few months, he has come so far and so fast it is beyond words. With the 
help of his lovely wife Khieda, and his two beautiful daughters Amari 
and Khamya, he charges forward each day towards recovery. He is also an 
instructor and pathfinder graduate Ranger.
  Mr. Speaker, I submit this poem, penned in his honor by Albert Carey 
Caswell.

                             If I Were King

                       (By Albert Carey Caswell)

     If . . . I were King . . .
     I'd be one splendid thing!
     I'd be the one to freedom bring!
     If I were King!
     I'd wear that uniform . . .
     of such brave hearts who walk with hearts so very bold and 
           warm!
     Who are Airborne!
     And I'd be a Ranger who freedom so forms!
     As over the enemy I so swarm!
     If I were King . . .
     To bring hailing down upon our enemy,
     such a most magnificent deadly force all at light speeds!
     And if I were King,
     I'd be an American Hero from who freedom so breathes . . .
     All with that is so inside of me!
     And so live by such a creed,
     and so march off to war to such places where angels so fear 
           to be!
     To so say what must so be said!
     To do what must so be done!
     If I were King!
     I'd so sing what must so be sung!
     If I were King
     I'd be a United States Ranger . . .
     Who would so laugh at danger . . .
     Who mountains can so climb!
     All for love of country so sublime!
     For only the few can so say!
     That they so wear that beret . . .
     Who with all of my most courageous Brothers In Arms,
     have so watched our Brother's blood so run as they died that 
           day!
     With tears in eyes as their fine lives are now so done,
     as he'd kneel and pray!
     And if were King,
     as an Airborne Ranger over evil I would so reign!
     For Rangers lead in all things!
     And if I were King,
     all for God and Country I would have so bled!
     For in history Rangers have always led!
     As its life and death in what is said!
     And if I were King,
     I would have given up my two strong legs,
     as from out of the darkness armed but with only my courage 
           and faith!
     To so awake from such harm!
     As my tears so brake,
     as my heart so tells me to somehow move on!
     As with each new day,
     I.must wade through such pain and heartache formed . . .
     With the help of a great wife Khieda who stands by her man so 
           very warm!
     And my two beautiful daughters Amari and Khamya,
     who lovingly call out my name each morning . . .
     If I were King!
     And though my task is great . . .
     These new giant steps I would now so take . . .
     For time for no man so waits . . .
     And pity will only weak hearts so create!
     So wipe all of your tears away . . .
     As I stand here much more than a man on this very day!
     As my strides have gotten stronger and much more great!
     Look at me,
     because I'm Airborne as it's up out ahead you'll find me 
           leading the way!
     To So Teach You!
     To So Beseech You!
     To So Reach You and All Of Your Hearts This Day!
     As Hero I was not trying to be,
     but this is what my Lord God has so made me . . .
     So get out of my way!
     For I've got mountains to so climb!
     And hearts to so heal all in my time!
     And I've got Blue Skies up ahead of me . . .
     When, I go back home to my most beloved Carolina someday!
     If I were King how proud I would so be . . .
     In life,
     most people never reach so high!
     And jump so heroically from the skies!
     Who are Rangers who are Airborne,
     all so selflessly to so live and die!
     And so live by such a heroic creed,
     ith but such tears in eyes!
     And so bury their dead up on high!
     For its far . . . far better to live a noble life . . .
     Than, just to do the ride!
     Better, to give up your strong fine legs . . .
     Then, in the end so wish somehow better choices you had made!
     And die with such regret as you so ask yourself,
     what did I do all in my life?
     For I'd much rather live like a King,
     and know that my life had meaning in every way!
     Then die just marking time day after day!
     If I were King!
     I'd hold my head up high until my dying days!
     Knowing full well,
     what to this world I gave!
     For in life,
     only a few Kings so lead the way!
     If I were King,
     heaven would me await.

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