[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 5]
[Senate]
[Pages 7442-7443]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            REMEMBERING LANCE CORPORAL LAWRENCE R. PHILIPPON

  Mr. BLUMENTHAL. Mr. President, today I have the great privilege of 
presenting a poem in memory of LCpl Lawrence R. Philippon of West 
Hartford, CT, who gave his life 8 years ago this May while supporting 
Operation Iraqi Freedom as a courageous member of the United States 
Marines. In the Marine Corps color guard, Lance Corporal Philippon 
carried the flag at the funeral for President Reagan, but yearned to be 
on the front lines. It was there, as a brave member of the 3rd 
Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Marine expeditionary force that he 
made the ultimate sacrifice for his country.
  As Memorial Day nears, we dedicate ourselves in gratitude to our 
heroes--our servicemen and women, both recent and throughout history--
who have sacrificed and served for our freedom, protecting the founding 
principles we hold dear.

[[Page 7443]]

  This special poem was written by Albert Carey Caswell, a longtime 
member of the Capitol Guide Service, and prolific poet whose work has 
been recited many times on the Senate floor. It is a privilege to 
present Bert's touching piece, written in memory of Lance Corporal 
Philippon. I invite my colleagues to remember and honor Lance Corporal 
Philippon and all current and former members of the military, and their 
families, today and always.


                            This Is My Blood

     This . . .
     This Is My Blood,
     that I so bled!
     ALLELUIA!
     And this is my life,
     that I so led!
     ALLELUIA!
     And these are all of the moments,
     which I no longer so have!
     ALLELUIA!
     As for you,
     I so gave up all that I had!
     ALLELUIA!
     That Last Full Measure,
     My Life . . .
     The Greatest of All Treasures,
     that one so has!
     ALLELUIA!
     And I'm so very sorry Sister and Brother,
     My Dearest Mother and Dad!
     ALLELUIA!
     And I know that you all so miss me,
     and so want to be with me so very bad!
     ALLELUIA!
     And I know that it make's you all so very sad!
     ALLELUIA!
     And these,
     are all of your tears that you now so weep,
     that you so have!
     ALLELUIA!
     All because your baby boy . . .
     your son, your most precious joy . . .
     your bother this one,
     has so died hurting you all so very bad!
     ALLELUIA!
     All because,
     in warm arms holding each other again we'll never have!
     ALLELUIA!
     But, find comfort . . .
     Because,
     one day up in Heaven we will all be together so very glad!
     ALLELUIA!
     For no Parent,
     no Sister, nor Brother of another . . .
     should so have to so watch their loved ones being buried in 
           the ground!
     ALLELUIA!
     And these are,
     the Sons and Daughters that I shall never so see!
     ALLELUIA!
     And this is the Wife,
     that I'll never so grow old with so happy to be!
     ALLELUIA!
     But take heart,
     for all that I've given up . . .
     Heaven so awaits all so for me!
     ALLELUIA!
     So wipe away all of those tears now so very deep!
     ALLELUIA!
     Moments are all that we all so have!
     ALLELUIA!
     To Make A Difference!
     To Change The World!
     To March Off So Very Boldly,
     With But Our Flags So Unfurled!
     ALLELUIA!
     So very proud,
     wearing those most magnificent shades of green,
     to so show the world what the word honor all so means!
     ALLELUIA!
     And to be One of The Few,
     Hoo Rahhhh . . . A United States Marine!
     Oh yes,
     remember all of this my little boys and girls what all so 
           means!
     ALLELUIA!
     For Heaven so holds a place,
     for all of those of such honor and selfless grace!
     ALLELUIA!
     For it's far . . . far . . . better,
     to have died for something!
     Than,
     to have lived for nothing at all!
     ALLELUIA!
     Because,
     that's not really living,
     no . . . no . . . not really living at all!
     ALLELUIA!
     As that's why,
     I so answered that most noble of all calls!
     ALLELUIA!
     Because in life,
     there is no higher height to which one can so be called!
     ALLELUIA!
     And no greater thing,
     then while all in the face of death to so stand so very tall!
     ALLELUIA!
     Then,
     but to lay down ones life but for The Greater Good of It All!
     ALLELUIA!
     As why up in Heaven with our Lord Larry,
     your fine soul has now so been called!
     ALLELUIA!
     As an Angel In The Army of Our Lord,
     to so watch over us and protect us one and all!
     ALLELUIA!
     For Larry,
     we will hear you on the wind . . .
     and we will feel you on the breeze . . .
     As we carry you in our hearts,
     all in our memories . . .
     ALLELUIA!
     And tonight in Connecticut,
     as you so lay your heads down to sleep . . .
     there comes a gentle rain . . .
     ALLELUIA!
     As it's our Lord's tears from up in Heaven,
     washing down upon you to so ease your pain!
     ALLELUIA!
     Until,
     up and heaven you and Larry will all so meet again . . .
     And you won't have to cry no more!
     ALLELUIA!
     This Is My Blood!
     ALLELUIA!
     AMEN!

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