[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 3]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 3297]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    THE SONGS OF THE FLAG ORGANIZATION (SOTF)--A RESOURCE FOR BURN 
                               SURVIVORS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. PETE SESSIONS

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 4, 2015

  Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of THE SONS OF THE 
FLAG organization, which was founded in Dallas, Texas by Ryan 
``Birdman'' Parrot in 2012. Parrot, a Navy SEAL who served 8 years as a 
member of SEAL Team 7 completed 3 tours in Iraq before being assigned 
to advanced Training Command. While riding in a Humvee, he and his team 
were hit by an IED with most of his crew sustaining life threatening 
burn injuries. Upon retirement he moved to Dallas, Texas, and was 
inspired by Ret. CAPT Sam Brown's strength and courage despite all his 
debilitating scarring. Not happy with the advancements in treatment for 
burns compared to the advancement of prosthetics he founded this 
organization to help: military, first responders, and civilian burn 
survivors. SOTF is bringing together community leaders, renowned burn 
surgeons, experienced military, dedicated first responders, and 
purposeful citizens to complete our mission. We partnered with Parkland 
Hospital in Dallas, Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, and 
Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. I submit this poem penned in 
their honor by Albert Carey Caswell.

                           So Proudly We Wave

                       (By Albert Carey Caswell)

     This is war
     There's another battle to be waged
     There are so many magnificent heroes who need our help this 
           day
     And just like them,
     the words no surrender we all say
     As so proudly to them we wave
     On this very day
     So high up above
     All in their love
     For all of those and what they gave
     Whether, on battlefields of honor bright
     Or First Responders and Fire Fighters who into infernos go 
           this night
     And all of those citizens so left to fight
     The scars of a Burn Survivor's plight
     For beauty is but skin deep
     As it's all in our souls where we so keep
     All of our faith and courage,
     that we all so need to find the will to dig in deep
     Is that but not the beauty we all seek?
     To so fight for their cause
     The eyes of Texas are upon us,
     and we shall not pause
     Carried all in our hearts,
     for this Old Red, White, and Blue so very deep
     Taking the charge
     For advancements,
     for all of those heroes who lives now loom so very large
     Who upon battlefields of honor bright
     Or rushing into burning buildings with hearts of courage full 
           to bring their light
     Who are in the business of saving lives
     Whether for our brothers and sisters to their left,
     to their right
     Or in burning buildings oh what heroic sights
     To somehow repay them for all of their sacrifice
     For we will help champion your battle for your victory,
     over this fight
     And help you one and all,
     to get on with your most magnificent of all lives
     Where you go
     We go
     We've got your six,
     for this is all that you need to know
     Just like the American flag,
     you too should be treated with such honor
     so
     They Gave,
     now its time for us To Give
     Just like The American flag,
     you too so proudly wave in all you did
     And remember no matter how dark the night,
     The Sons of Flag have got your six,
     for all you heroes whose hearts burn bright

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