[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 6799]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


IN MEMORY OF THE MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENT UNITED STATES NAVY SEAL PETTY 
                  OFFICER 2ND CLASS MICHAEL A. MONSOOR

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                           HON. PETE SESSIONS

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 19, 2016

  Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I rise on this coming Memorial Day in 
memory and in gratitude to all of the magnificent heroes like Petty 
Officer 2nd Class Michael A. Monsoor. The ones who gave that last full 
measure in the name of freedom for their country and brothers in Arms. 
On April the 8th 2008, Michael was posthumously presented the Medal of 
Honor by President Bush at the White House for sacrificing himself by 
jumping on a grenade on September 29, 2006 for his fellow SEALs. On 
this Memorial Day let our thoughts and prayers go out to him and his 
family and all of those who have given their lives throughout the years 
in the name of freedom. I submit this poem penned in his honor by 
Albert C. Caswell.

                         That Last Full Measure

     All in that moment between Life and Death
     When, who lives or dies no less
     When, courage comes to crest
     As comes That Measure
     That God-like Test
     That Last Full Measure
     Just All
     Until, none lies left
     As one of America's Best
     Right between Life and Death
     When, who lives or dies
     So all upon us so rests
     The greatest of all tests
     As to one's soul expressed
     When comes
     That Last Full Measure
     Of which now so Blesses
     As when one looks into that Face of Death
     And so valiantly vanquishes Evil's Quest
     As When Come's,
     That Last Full Measure
     That Golden Test
     All in that moment which lies
     As all in ones soul comprised
     Which, brings such tears to the Angels eyes
     Up On High
     All In That Last Full Measure
     As they watch and cry
     At this American Treasure
     At The Greatest Gift of All
     As how one's Life is Measured
     To hear that most solemn call
     Of Love and Devotion,
     and Sacrifice
     All in that moment of selflessness as so realized
     To do what is right
     To carry that night
     All in That Last Full Measure
     All in that fight
     With your gift
     The Greatest of All
     The one that our Lord so Treasure's
     Is but that ``That Last Full Measure''
     A SEAL Of HONOR
     The One who so endeavored
     In that Gift Michael you so gave
     All in that most splendid treasure Michael,
     the Lives you so saved
     Perhaps, one day a child will come
     Who too all of us among
     Will bless our world to come
     This one
     With such gifts of love you've begun
     A Cure For Cancer
     For our world's problems finding the answers
     Or maybe too,
     as you ``That Last Full Measure''
     And from all of this perhaps will come such Treasures
     From all of this such happiness begun
     And yet such sadness for all of your love ones
     That we can not so Measure
     Take heart,
     as one day you will all be together again
     All in Heaven's Sun embracing then
     Because of you Michael
     For what you've done
     And your most magnificent endeavor
     In what you gave America's Son
     All in,
     That Last Full Measure
     In the moment of truth,
     how you behaved my son
     As to our Lord's heart,
     you've brought such pleasure
     SEAL,
     your new battle has now begun
     Mount Up
     As Thy Will Be Done
     As it's time to run
     In the Army of Our Lord,
     as you are now one
     An Angel
     An Angel on high Michael
     And oh how your powers have increased
     As you watch over us in this battle to be won
     In life,
     moments are all we have
     Minutes to hearts to grab
     To Decisions Make
     To Fight for The Good
     Or The Bad
     If it's up in Heaven we wish to wake
     Today, We Stand
     With, Tear In Eye
     Understanding all the reason's why
     But, Where Your Honor Lies
     All because of you,
     Michael and your Sacrifice
     and That Last Full Measure.


     

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