[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 10]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 14554-14555]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      CONGRATULATING KAMERON GOETZ

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. DAN NEWHOUSE

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 17, 2016

  Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Kameron 
Goetz--a distinguished high school student from Coulee City,

[[Page 14555]]

Washington, and a committed advocate for our nation's veterans. Kameron 
was named a Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) finalist for his 
speech during the 2016 ``National Public Speaking II'' competition. 
Earlier this year, Kameron contacted my congressional office and shared 
a copy of the speech he had delivered to the FBLA. I encourage all of 
my colleagues to read this speech, which details the life and service 
of Kameron's grandfather, David Wayne Long, who volunteered for the 
U.S. Army following his high school graduation and served honorably in 
the Vietnam War. For his service, Mr. Long was awarded numerous 
military awards and medals, including the Parachutist Badge, Combat 
Infantryman's badge, Bronze Star, and the Vietnamese Cross of 
Gallantry, as well as three Purple Hearts for wounds received in 
combat. Following his discharge from the U.S. Army, Mr. Long settled 
down in Washington, started a family, and became a successful 
businessman. However, as is far too common, Mr. Long returned from the 
war with wounds that cannot be seen by the naked eye and suffered from 
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) for much of his civilian life. 
Tragically, on February 3, 2014, David Wayne Long took his own life 
after a decades-long battle with PTSD.
  Mr. Long's story is one that we hear far too often, as too many of 
our brave men and women serving in the Armed Forces return home from 
the battlefield and are faced with the mental wounds and memories from 
their time at war. Our veterans have made great sacrifices to ensure 
the rights and freedoms of all Americans are protected and we owe them 
a debt of gratitude that can never be repaid. However, we must ensure 
that our nation's service-members receive the best care and treatment 
available, and we must also dedicate ourselves to supporting causes and 
organizations that are working tirelessly to assist our country's 
heroes as their own personal health battles continue. Kameron's speech, 
as well as his dedication to helping our nation's troops and veterans, 
has inspired me and many people around the country to give back and 
volunteer for efforts that help the brave men and women of our Armed 
Forces, past and present, who have sacrificed so much in service to our 
country. The speech Kameron gave to FBLA is truly moving and his 
ongoing commitment to support our veterans should serve as an example 
for all Americans. I would like to thank Kameron and his family for 
their dedicated service and patriotism. I am honored to be able to 
include his remarks in the Record.


Speech Delivered by Kameron Goetz--Future Business Leaders of America--
             National Public Speaking II Competition, 2016

       A little over two centuries ago a nation of men rose up, 
     and threw off the yoke of oppression that had been thrust 
     upon them by a far away monarch. In acquiring their freedom 
     and breaking their bonds, many men laid down their lives. 
     Today, it is because of their sacrifice that we are free. But 
     this freedom must be continually fought for in order to keep 
     it. As members of FBLA, we strive to develop character, 
     prepare for useful citizenship, and foster patriotism. At a 
     minimum, every citizen of the United States should have 
     similar goals. However, some have set and achieved much 
     higher goals, while consequently paying a higher price. 
     Today, I am going to tell you of one such person, and of the 
     price he paid.
       There was a small town farm boy who grew up right here in 
     Washington State. You could call him the ``All-American 
     Kid.'' He was a hard worker, a good student, and an 
     exceptional athlete. Once this All-American Kid graduated 
     from high school, he was faced with an All-American decision. 
     Join the Army or follow his mother's advice to settle down 
     and get married to his high school sweetheart. As much as he 
     wanted to please his mother, he chose the Army. He quickly 
     adapted to his new life, becoming an excellent soldier--1st 
     in his class at Basic Training. Once his training was 
     complete, the All-American Kid was shipped off to a far away 
     war, in a far away land, called Vietnam.
       In the sweltering jungles of Southeast Asia, he came face 
     to face with the monsters of war. He saw things that no man, 
     let alone any boy, should ever see. Then he came home. The 
     All-American Kid had a Bronze Star on his chest for valor, 
     the physical scars of three separate combat wounds, and the 
     demons that accompanied the atrocities he had witnessed. He 
     was a hero, but was not treated as such. As he stepped back 
     onto U.S. soil for the first time in months, the All-American 
     kid was spit on and berated. He was called a ``butcher,'' a 
     ``rapist,'' and a ``baby killer.''
       The All-American rushed past the names and moved on. The 
     demons he brought back with him were pushed deep down, far 
     away. He settled down, got married, started a family, and 
     became a successful businessman. Life was great on the 
     outside. But on the inside, everything was much worse. His 
     demons had never left him. For years they clawed, and ripped, 
     and tore away at his very soul. And he fought, and he fought, 
     and he fought back with everything he had. Finally, after 
     years of fighting, he lost the fight. On February 3, 2014, my 
     grandfather, David Wayne Long, the All-American Kid, 
     succumbed to his demons. He committed suicide.
       58,000 men and women lost their lives under a Vietnam sky. 
     An additional 100,000 came home, only to take their lives 
     under their own roofs. Every day, twenty-two veterans kill 
     themselves. With that number, we are losing 8,000 veterans a 
     year. They are all suffering from the same common disease. 
     This disease is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or more 
     commonly known as PTSD. PTSD won't let you move on from what 
     you have seen, heard, or done in traumatic circumstances. It 
     eats at you, slowly deteriorating your very will to live. It 
     cannot be cured, it cannot be stopped. But it can be treated. 
     Foundations such as the Wounded Warrior Project are dedicated 
     to helping men and women of the United States Armed Forces, 
     past and present, recover from the physical and mental wounds 
     of war. Specifically for those suffering with mental 
     afflictions, the people at WWP take them in and simply love 
     on them. They make them feel appreciated. Now this is key, 
     because one of the worst fears for every soldier is not the 
     fear of death. It is the fear that they will come home and 
     the people, who they would have died for on a daily basis, do 
     not care.
       The Wounded Warrior Project can't help veterans alone. They 
     need support, and they need partners. We need to be that 
     support, and we need to be those partners, because it is the 
     men and women who have served our country for generations 
     that have upheld our freedom. I am ready to stand up and give 
     back. Rise up with me. Let's all give back. Let's give back 
     to those who gave.

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