[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 18677-18678]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  A TRIBUTE TO THE FISHER HOUSE: A HOME AWAY FROM HOME, FOR AMERICA'S 
                       HEROES AND THEIR FAMILIES

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. PETE SESSIONS

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 11, 2013

  Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in this Christmas Season of 
giving to recognize The Fisher House, an organization that has built 
sixty-two homes for our wounded warriors and their families. The Fisher 
House is a place of recovery where families can be reunited with their 
loved ones as they fight the battle to overcome the scars of war. As a 
home away from home, The Fisher House provides safe haven and helps 
relieve the financial hardships that families relocating to be with 
their wounded loved ones face. The Fisher House Program was founded in 
1990 by Zachary and Elizabeth Fisher in Rockville, Maryland. They are 
located at major military and VA medical centers nationwide. Kenneth 
Fisher is currently carrying on his Uncle Zach's legacy as acting 
Chairman. I submit this poem penned by Albert Carey Caswell in their 
honor.

         Fisher House--Because a Family's Love Is Good Medicine

     A . . .
     A Home . . .
     A Home Away . . .
     A Home Away From . . .
     A Home Away From Home!
     And when our heroes come back home . . .
     From war and battlefields of honor bright to which they 
           belong.
     Back from that most dreaded cost of war . . . .
     all in such pain and heartache to endure . . . .
     As such a battle up ahead them so lies before,
     for all these families in this new war!
     Broken all in such places.
     With scars upon their faces . . .
     With arms and legs missing in all places . . .
     With operation after operation,
     as this they so face this!
     As they can not so be alone . . .
     For they so need a place of refuse where they can get strong 
           . . .
     A place that they can call Home!
     A Home Away From Home,
     where they can all belong!
     Can grow!
     A place where healing is so strong!
     A place where their loved ones can hold them tight . . . .
     and encourage them both day and night!
     A place to ready them for this new battle,
     this new fight!
     A place of refuse and of rest!
     A place where they can but be their best!
     A place that which helps their fine heart's crest!
     A place which brings them to recovery and nothing less!
     A place where they so all belong!
     So they know that they are not alone!
     A Home Away From Home!
     Just like a love song!
     Because all of these families come from afar!
     As they put their own lives on hold . . .
     because that's who they are!
     Such quiet heroes one and all,
     who so shine like the stars!
     Because they make their loved ones who they are!

[[Page 18678]]

     All In This Home Away From Home from afar!
     The Fisher House is the Home of America's Greatest of All 
           Stars!
     So that in the morning they can awake . . .
     With but smiles upon their face!
     Where their children can but so have a place!
     Where they can be kids as all around they so race!
     Which feels more like home with each new day!
     Where at the dinner table they can all say grace!
     A safe haven . . .
     a sanctuary which in the quiet of the night brings tears to 
           their face!
     To let them Heal!
     To let them find The Grace!
     Where their courage grows at such an enormous pace!
     Where family Birthdays . . .
     Christmas . . .
     Thanksgiving and Holidays they celebrate!
     And talk about their first new steps so great!
     As they wipe away all those tears from their face!
     All in This Home Away From Home,
     this so very special healing place!
     Until that moment,
     that one fine day
     when it's time to leave this Home Away From Home!
     And finally,
     they can all go back to their Home's to so stay!
     As they will never forget this place!
     Bless this home!

                          ____________________