[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 19222-19223]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




WHAT GIFT CAN I BRING? IN HONOR OF OUR ARMED FORCES AND THEIR FAMILIES 
                             THIS CHRISTMAS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. PETE SESSIONS

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, December 16, 2013

  Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of America's Armed 
Forces, and their Families during this Christmas and Holiday Season. 
The ones who are separated by death, war, and plagued with life 
altering health conditions throughout America, are paying the price of 
freedom for us all. The ones who give us the greatest gifts, ``That 
Last Full Measure''. Say a prayer for them, and keep them in your 
hearts this Christmas and Holiday Season. Say a prayer for peace, I ask 
that this poem penned in their honor by Albert Carey Casewell be placed 
in the Record.

                         What Gift Can I Bring?

                       (By Albert Carey Caswell)

     ``What gift can I bring?'' . . .
     Pa rumpa pum pum . . .
     ``That's fit for a King'' . . .
     Pa rumpa pum pum . . .
     What gift can I give?
     Pa rumpa pum pum . . .
     All in this life I live . . .
     Pa rumpa pum pum . . .
     While,
     into the valley of death I walked!
     Pa rumpa pum pum . . .
     Out into that darkness standing tall!
     Pa rumpa pum pum . . .
     My arms and legs I gave . . .
     Pa rumpa pum pum . . .
     For you I limp this day!
     Pa rumpa pum pum . . .
     And in my arms my love ones I shall never hold this way . . .
     Pa rumpa pum pum . . .
     All so we may live in peace this day!
     Pa rumpa pum pum . . .
     And . . . my eyes I gave . . .
     so all in darkness I must stay . . .
     Pa rumpa pum pum . . .
     As another beautiful sunset I shall never so see portrayed . 
           . .
     Pa rumpa pum pum . . .
     And my ears I gave,
     so I can never hear the words ``I love you'' say . . .
     Pa rumpa pum pum . . .
     And all those scars upon my face . . .
     In the mirror I must look at each day . . .
     Pa rumpa pum pum . . .
     All for the beauty of peace on earth this day . . .
     Pa rumpa pum pum . . .

[[Page 19223]]

     As all in such nightmares I awake . . .
     Pa rumpa pum pum . . .
     All in the name of Freedom I paid . . .
     Pa rumpa pum pum . . .
     What greater gift can I give?
     Pa rumpa pum pum . . .
     That's fit for a King . . .
     Pa rumpa pum pum . . .
     As I did . . .
     Pa rumpa pum pum . . .
     As all in such pain and worry my family now lives . . .
     Pa rumpa pum pum . . .
     And all of those Doctors and Nurses,
     Corpsmen and Medics who witness such death and carnage each 
           day!
     Pa rumpa pum pum . . .
     Who so many lives so save!
     Pa rumpa pum pum . . .
     Creating such demons inside they must now so face!
     Pa rumpa pum pum . . .
     And my life I gave!
     Pa rumpa pum pum . . .
     As approached the face of death . . .
     Pa rumpa pum pum . . .
     As out to me so called . . .
     Pa rumpa pum pum . . .
     As its hand upon me I felt and saw . . .
     Pa rumpa pum pum . . .
     As my Brothers In Arms gathered around cried,
     praying with tears in eyes . . .
     Pa rumpa pum pum . . .
     I gave my best for them!
     I gave my life for them!
     Pa rumpa pum pum . . .
     Pa rumpa pum pum . . .
     Pa rumpa pum pum . . .
     And I'd do it all over again my son!
     Pa rumpa pum pum . . ..
     All so one day more they could live!
     Pa rumpa pum pum . . .
     As they so lowered me into my quiet grave . . .
     Pa rumpa pum pum . . .
     As my family so wept upon that day . . .
     Pa rumpa pum pum . . .
     As ever the tears they made!
     Pa rumpa pum pum . . .
     As they now live with the kind of pain which won't go away!
     Pa rumpa pum pum . . .
     All so,
     we may have peace on earth this day . . .
     Pa rumpa pum pum . . .
     Was but the price of Freedom I paid . . .
     Pa rumpa pum pum . . .
     Pum . . .
     Pum . . .
     What gift can I bring?
     Pa rumpa pum pum . . .
     That's fit for a King!
     Pa rumpa pum pum . . .
     And then,
     he smiled at me . . .
     Pa rumpa pum pum . . .
     As my Lord said,
     ``come to heaven son'' . . .
     Pa rumpa pum pum . . .
     Pa rumpa pum pum . . .
     Pa rumpa pum pum . . .
     Smiled at me!
     Pa rumpa pum pum . . .
     Pum!
     Pum!
     Pum!

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