[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 7994]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           THE JACK OF HEARTS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JEFF FORTENBERRY

                              of nebraska

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 4, 2013

  Mr. FORTENBERRY. Mr. Speaker, on April 6, 2013, something remarkable 
occurred at Memorial Stadium. During the University of Nebraska 
football team's spring game, seven-year-old Jack Hoffman sprinted 69 
yards down the field to score a touchdown with over 60,000 fans 
watching him. But his amazing touchdown is nothing compared to the 
courage he displays in his two-year battle with brain cancer. I am 
proud to call young Jack a Husker and would like to submit this tribute 
poem written on his behalf by Albert Carey Caswell.

                           The Jack of Hearts

                       (By Albert Carey Caswell)

     The . . .
     The Jack of Hearts . . .
     Oh how you've so done your part!
     To so inspire us with but your little heart!
     For you are but a work of art!
     Jack be nimble!
     Jack be quick!
     Oh Jack how all of our hearts you've so hit!
     For you are a champion,
     that our Lord has so picked!
     Running down that football field,
     as your heart would not yield!
     As to our Nation,
     what your most courageous little big heart so revealed!
     Giving us all such a lift!
     For you are one fine Husker,
     as we are all so very sure of this!
     All at what your little heart can muster,
     is but to all of us such a great gift!
     As you have brought us all to,
     such tears of bliss!
     Yea, Jack be nimble!
     Yea, Jack be quick!
     Jack be Strong!
     As Jack you so battle on and on!
     As like your Husker's on those fields of green,
     Jack you so fight with all your being!
     For already Jack,
     your short life is like a song!
     A song of courage!
     A song of faith!
     Who against all odds,
     will not so wave!
     Teaching us all,
     so how to behave!
     And children,
     as Heroes should not have to be!
     But, sadly sometimes . . .
     through them our Lord so shows us all what we need!
     For you are a brave as a Navy Seal,
     or a Special Forces member of The United States Army,
     or a member of The United States Air Force we've seen,
     or a member of The United States Marines!
     And Jack,
     as you ran down that football field . . .
     Our Nation's hearts,
     we all so hope that you could feel!
     All in what your great heart has revealed!
     And as you scored that touchdown,
     and they held you way up high!
     I wonder if you could but hear all of our tears,
     as we so all began to cry!
     Saying Jack,
     we are with you every step of the way!
     And in Oklahoma on this day,
     even the Sooner's became Husker fans as did they!
     As Congressman Fortenbury would say,
     we're Nebraska, and This Is How We Roll each day!
     For in The Game of Life Jack,
     you've gone deep!
     As why in our thoughts and prayers,
     you we will so ever keep!
     So win that battle!
     So win that fight!
     For your heart is the brightest of the bright!
     And one day,
     we will see you in college playing at Nebraska under the 
           lights!
     And if your betting against Little Jack,
     well you better not!
     Because,
     a Jack of Heart's . . . beats any hand that you've so got!
     So Jack, as you so lay your little head down to sleep!
     We pray to our Lord to watch over you so to keep!
     And remember Jack our Nation,
     now carries you all in our hearts so very deep!
     The Jack of Hearts, who to our hearts and souls does so 
           speak!
     We Are The Huskers,
     and This Is How We Roll!

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