[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 16908]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 TRIBUTE TO TIMOTHY MICHAEL REESE, JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MARK SANFORD

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 12, 2013

  Mr. SANFORD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the life of 
Timothy Michael Reese, Jr. He was a sophomore at Clemson University, I 
am told a great brother, an even greater son, and a best friend to our 
son Landon. He lived a short, but remarkable life and in attempting to 
portray it let me just tell you one story.
  I flew home Tuesday afternoon to attend his funeral and in the late 
afternoon after doing so, but before my flight, I joined maybe a 
hundred or more close friends to the family in warm remembrances of 
Michael's life over a meal. It was a perfect South Carolina late 
afternoon, the sun was light and the sky was blue. There was a light 
breeze in from the ocean there on Sullivan's Island, and despite the 
tragedy of a life cut short, there was a mood of peace and warmth and 
even happiness as we in our different ways reflected on Michael's 
impact in each of our own lives.
  In that setting Tim, his dad, stood up and gave a really special talk 
about Michael, about God, faith, friendship and love. He talked about 
after days of tears and grieving, he had come to the point of peace 
because of his faith and as the crowd in the backyard listened to each 
word, three thoughts hit me.
  One, there are few things in life more extraordinary than the love 
between a father or mother to a son or daughter. It's ultimately a 
reflection of God's model of love toward each one of us as a heavenly 
Father, and that's probably something I've not taken enough time to be 
appreciative of whether in heavenly or earthly form.
  Two, it hit me how significant the gift of life really is . . . and 
how there can be an even greater gift and inspiration that comes in 
truly living it. In that regard, Michael, during his nineteen years set 
the bar. He was infectious in his enthusiasm for life. In the wake of 
the funeral I had spoken with Landon about Michael and he made the 
point that Michael was always positive. That he always added humor or 
laughter. That as a friend he didn't fight or argue, but instead looked 
for ways to build up Landon or others around him as they were beginning 
this journey called life.
  He was not only positive, but also had this spectacular sense of 
adventure that I think would serve as an example for those double, 
three times or four times his age. Many frankly never find a sense of 
adventure like his regardless of their chapter in life. This manifested 
itself in back flips off the dock at our farm, Coosaw. It showed itself 
in ski jumps out West that frightened me on occasion. It even served as 
the origin for new words as the boys created ``terragoning'' as they 
pulled skateboards behind golf carts at the grandparents' home in 
Florida. I could give another hundred examples, but I would summarize 
the thoughts with what I remember reading many years ago on the front 
cover of Forbes magazine upon the death of Malcolm Forbes. It said 
simply, ``While alive--he lived.'' Indeed Michael Reese did and in so 
doing, I believe serves as a vital reminder to every one of us who have 
been blessed by our Creator with this thing called life, to make the 
very most of it--and each day in it.
  Finally, I was struck by the genuine sense of community. We all yearn 
for connection. I believe both to those around us and to God above. 
Sometimes I don't know that we would describe it in those terms, but I 
believe that the yearning is there in each one of us. This sense of 
community is as well something with spiritual overtones that I think 
tie back to being one's brother's keeper. I saw it there in South 
Carolina that night. Part of it I suspect comes from a local community 
that's maybe not as transient as some parts of the world, and as a 
result there are many multi-generational ties that have been there for 
all the many ups and downs that come with life. There is something 
special about that kind of community and I am proud to call it home. 
Maybe it was a reflection of the Reese family. Their roots not only run 
deep in the community, on a daily basis they've showered it with 
blessings based on their own warmth and grace. Maybe still another 
explanation was the spiritual component to what Tim talked about as his 
prayer and conversation really set the tone for the whole group 
assembled. So I suspect I could ascribe many different reasons for the 
sense of community I felt on Tuesday night, October 29th, but I just 
know that sense of community is vital. It is a reminder to me that if 
we could get it right in that backyard, we could get it right in my 
State and in this country and here, even in the halls of Congress.
  So Michael Reese has left me with many things to ponder, but more 
than anything a life that was well and joyously celebrated in each day 
over his nineteen years of life, and that gives me something to strive 
for over the next nineteen of mine. My prayer, Mr. Speaker, is that it 
will do the same for you and for those who hear my voice. Godspeed, 
Michael. I know Tim and Frannie, Annie, McLean and Baker will miss you. 
Landon and I along with the rest of the Sanford gang will too, but we 
will see you soon.

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