[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 163 (2017), Part 2]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 2583]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            A POETIC TRIBUTE TO FALLEN NAVY SEAL RYAN OWENS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. DARIN LaHOOD

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 14, 2017

  Mr. LaHOOD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart at the 
passing of one of my constituents, an American hero, Navy SEAL Ryan 
Owens, who was killed on a mission in Yemen on January 29, 2017. Our 
prayers and thoughts go out to his loved ones, loving wife, and three 
beautiful children. Our Nation owes a great debt of gratitude to these 
magnificent members of our Armed Forces and their families for their 
selflessness. Give thanks to them each day as you hold your family 
close. I include in the Record this poem penned in his honor by Albert 
Carey Caswell.

                              Ryan's Song

     Ryan's Song,
     so loud and long,
     so very strong,
     will live on and on,
     On and on,
     As an American Hero,
     as it's oh so clear oh,
     now that he's gone,
     He will live on,
     Now, up in heaven where he belongs,
     Moments
     Are all we have,
     To fight the evil,
     to vanquish the bad,
     To make a difference,
     all in the short time we have,
     To bring the light,
     all in our hearts of courage full shining bright,
     Upon, death's altar in this never ending fight,
     Of Good vs Evil,
     there are but our Lord's chosen people who fight the fight,
     who will defend our freedoms with all their might,
     Who with their band of brothers,
     as like none others,
     side by side to their left,
     to their right
     A freedom fighter,
     For there can be no brighter light,
     Who for each other are so willing to die in this fight,
     With kind of selflessness which brings tears to even the 
           Angels' eyes,
     way up high on this night,
     For there can be no greater gift or treasure,
     than To Give That Last Full Measure,
     Then, to lay down one's life,
     To leave your three beautiful children,
     and your loved ones and your most loving wife,
     As it's for you Ryan and your family,
     we all so cry this night,
     For you have blessed our Nation with all your light,
     And all across Peoria this night,
     there comes a gentle rain,
     As you lay your heads down to rest,
     all in your heartache that which remains,
     Are but our Lord's tears to wash down upon your family Ryan,
     to so ease your pain,
     Until, once again up in heaven you will meet again,
     And you won't have to cry again,
     Better to die for something,
     than to live for nothing at all,
     For this was but Ryan's clarion call,
     Mount up my son,
     for your new battle has just begun,
     As an Angel in The Army of our Lord as you now must run,
     To continue this battle which must be won,
     And we will hear you on the breeze,
     And we will see you in places so all at ease,
     As we will awake in the morning so all in peace,
     knowing you were watching over us all in our sleep,
     As now we lay your most sacred body down to rest,
     At Ease my son,
     sealed with a kiss,
     Ryan you were and will always be one of America's Best,
     Her son,
     Hush little children don't you cry,
     one day up in heaven you will look into your fine Father's 
           eyes,
     Amen
                                            --Albert Carey Caswell

  In memory of a magnificent American hero, Navy SEAL Ryan Owens. May 
God watch over his family and hold them in his arms.

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