Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, Escambia County and indeed the entire state of Alabama recently lost a dear friend, and I rise today to honor him and pay tribute to his memory.

Mr. George Robinson ``Robin'' Swift, Jr., was a devoted family man and dedicated public servant throughout his entire life.

His desire to provide the best opportunities possible for his fellow Alabamians led him to become involved in state politics on both the local and statewide levels, culminating with a hard-fought campaign for governor in 1994. Prior to his run for elective office, Robin Swift participated on the campaign of former Governor Guy Hunt and served with distinction as the governor's finance director. It would be safe to say that the state of Alabama has never had a finer, more dedicated or more capable finance director than Robin Swift.

During his tenure as finance director, Robin was extremely diligent with the taxpayer's money and set the highest standard for all public servants. One of his former colleagues in the Alabama Finance Office, Lee Miller, paid tribute to Mr. Swift's tremendous success when he said, ``He led by example, and was the best steward of the public trust I ever encountered at any level of government.''

Mr. Speaker, while Robin Swift was an exemplary model of public service, his true love was America's free enterprise system where, as a small business owner in Atmore, he was extremely familiar with the challenges and goals of running a successful business. That business, Swift Lumber Company, provides employment opportunities today to many dozens of hardworking men and women throughout South Alabama. While serving as president of Swift Lumber Company, Robin Swift and his family have provided a local anchor that remains an important part of the area economy to this day.

Additionally, Mr. Swift was a proud veteran of the United States Army and served with distinction for two years during the Korean War.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in remembering a dedicated public servant and long-time advocate for the citizens of Escambia County and the state of Alabama. Mr. Swift will be deeply missed by his family--his wife, Lucille King Swift, his daughter, Lisa Swift Marks, his son, G. Robin Swift, III, and his six grandchildren-- as well as the countless friends he leaves behind. Our thoughts and prayers are with them all at this difficult time.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride and pleasure that I rise to honor the Honorable Jack Tillman, Sheriff for Mobile County, Alabama, on the occasion of his being elected as president of the Alabama Sheriffs Association (ASA).

The ASA was designed to provide a professional network and link for the sheriffs in Alabama's 67 counties. Along with providing this link for law enforcement officials throughout the State, the Sheriffs Association also serves as an important legislative tool on the State and Federal levels and advocates on behalf of its membership and their families. Since 1990, the ASA has also been actively involved with the ``Jail Assistance Project,'' a program created to provide sheriffs, chiefs of police, and representatives of local governments with the tools to plan and staff new jail facilities, provide expert advice and assistance in evaluating correctional equipment, and develop training on various correctional issues.

Jack Tillman is very qualified to serve as the president of this organization and has an extensive background in the law enforcement field. On January 15, 2003, he was sworn in to begin his third term as Mobile County Sheriff. Prior to that, he served in the Mobile County Public School System as a Resource Officer. During his tenure with the school system, he successfully conducted numerous criminal investigations requiring collaboration with representatives from law enforcement agencies at the local, State, and Federal levels.

Sheriff Tillman's concern for and involvement in his community also extends outside the professional boundaries of the sheriff's office. He serves on numerous boards for civic and church groups and organizations dedicated to the young people of Mobile County.

Along with his wife, Deborah, their children Brian and Lindsay, and his many friends and colleagues, I wish to extend to Sheriff Jack Tillman my warmest congratulations on his election as president of the Alabama Sheriffs Association.

Mr. Speaker, Mobile County and indeed the entire State of Alabama recently lost a dear friend, and I rise today to honor him and pay tribute to his memory.

Mr. Kendall Parker Dexter was a devoted family man and dedicated community leader throughout his life.

Following his graduation from the University of Michigan, he joined International Paper Company in 1950 as a forester. After serving in various positions with the company in Mississippi, Mr. Dexter moved to Mobile, Alabama

in 1955 and began work as a conservation forester in International Paper's Gulf Woodlands Region. From 1962 to 1974, he served as a member of the management development and public relations departments at the Southern Kraft Division headquarters. Beginning in 1974 and continuing until his retirement, he served as the division's manager of governmental relations.

Along with his employment at International Paper, Mr. Dexter also served in various capacities as an outside consultant to the timber and paper industries, the Mobile Bar Pilots, and to representatives in both the Alabama State Legislature and the United States Congress. He also served as president of the Paper Industry Management Association.

In the midst of his intense professional schedule, Mr. Dexter also found time to serve in many community organizations and on several boards of directors. He was actively involved with the Boy Scouts of America and was an important part of the effort to organize and develop Camp Maubila in Jackson, Alabama. Mr. Dexter was also an active member of the Kiwanis Club, a past member of the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce, as well as a member of the board of directors of the Mobile Symphony and Civic Music Association.

Mr. Dexter was also a proud veteran of the United States Air Force and served with distinction during the Korean War as both a navigator and bombardier aboard a B-26 ``Invader.'' For his service, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in remembering a dedicated community leader and friend to many throughout South Alabama. Mr. Dexter will be deeply missed by his family--his wife, Lila Webb Dexter; his children, John Kendall Dexter, David Parker Dexter, Elizabeth Dexter, and Katherine Dexter Allen; his stepchildren, Lila McDuffie Bailey, Virginia McDuffie Siniard, and Hunter McDuffie, III; and 14 grandchildren--as well as the countless friends he leaves behind. Our thoughts and prayers are with them all at this difficult time.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride and pleasure that I rise to honor the Honorable Ann Bedsole on the occasion of her being honored by the Association of Fundraising Professionals with the organization's 2004 Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser Award.

Senator Ann Bedsole has been a distinguished member of the Mobile, Alabama, community and a tremendous advocate for all of south Alabama for over three decades. In 1978, she was elected to the Alabama House of Representatives and served in that capacity for one term. Four years later, in 1982, she became the first woman ever elected to the Alabama State Senate, and was a candidate for governor in 1994.

During her career in the Alabama State Legislature, Senator Bedsole was instrumental in the creation of the Alabama School of Math and Science in Mobile, Alabama. Working closely with fellow legislators and members of various agencies in state government, she was able to secure support for the institution and has provided a great deal of support since it opened in 1991. In the two decades since its inception, Senator Bedsole has served as both vice president and president of the ASMS Foundation Board of Directors.

Throughout her long fundraising and volunteer career, her crowning achievement was undoubtedly the City of Mobile's Tricentennial Celebration in 2002. This event, celebrating the 300 year history of Mobile, drew thousands of visitors to this historic center and brought tourists, dignitaries, and media representatives from all across the United States and around the world. The celebration's schedule of concerts, exhibitions, festivals, and sporting events were a tremendous success and required a great deal of financial support. Under her leadership and guidance as chairman of the festival, Senator Bedsole was able to solicit more than $5 million in private, local, state, and committee funds and in-kind services. Her efforts in organizing and leading this event led to a truly memorable celebration of the history and tradition of Mobile.

Along with her strong involvement in the community, Senator Bedsole is involved in many charitable organizations including serving on the boards of the Cybil Smith Charitable Trust and the J.L. Bedsole Foundation.

Senator Bedsole's efforts in the fields of volunteerism and fundraising have also led to significant recognition in previous years, and she has been honored as First Lady of Mobile in 1972 and Mobilian of the Year in 1993.

Mr. Speaker, there are few individuals more dedicated or more committed to helping their communities than Ann Bedsole, and I would like to offer my congratulations on both the Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser award and for her many personal and professional achievements. I know her husband, Palmer Bedsole, and her many family and friends join with me in praising her accomplishments and extending thanks for her many efforts on behalf of Mobile and the state of Alabama.

Mr. Speaker, Mobile County and indeed the entire state of Alabama recently lost a dear friend, and I rise today to honor him and pay tribute to his memory.

Mr. Ben C. Stimpson was a devoted family man and dedicated business leader and conservationist throughout his life.

After attending the University of Alabama for a number of years, he left in 1945 to join the United States Army. At the conclusion of his enlistment, Mr. Stimpson returned home to join his brothers in the family timber business, Ben May's Gulf Lumber Company, in Mobile, Alabama. Over the next several years, he and his family built Ben May's into one of the largest sawmills in the State of Alabama, and Mr. Stimpson served as president of the company. Through his work in the timber industry, he had the opportunity to become affiliated with several professional organizations and served in various leadership capacities with these groups. These include serving as a director of the Alabama Forest Products Association, director of the Southern Forest Products Association, and chairman of the board of the Southern Pine Inspection Bureau. As a result of his professional success and industry involvement, Mr. Stimpson was inducted into the Alabama Business Hall of Fame in 2002 at the University of Alabama.

Along with his work in the timber industry, Mr. Stimpson was also actively involved in the conservation and preservation of the wildlife and natural resources of his native State. Between 1971 and 1984, he served as a member of the Conservation Advisory Board for the

Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. He was also a member of the Alabama Wildlife Federation for many years and was both a member of the board of directors and past president of that organization. In 1964, he was recognized for his tremendous efforts in the field of conservation when he was awarded the Governor's Conservation Award by then-Governor George C. Wallace.

In the midst of his busy professional schedule, Mr. Stimpson also found time to serve in many community organizations and on several boards of directors. He was a member of the board of Mobile Infirmary for 25 years; he served for 20 years as a past chairman, president, and member of the St. Paul's Episcopal School board of trustees; and was a vestryman at St. Paul's Episcopal Church.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in remembering a dedicated community leader and friend to many throughout South Alabama. Mr. Stimpson will be deeply missed by his family--his wife, Nedra Greer Stimpson; his children, Nedra Stimpson Crosby, John L. Stimpson, Ben C. Stimpson, Jr., Mary Stimpson Turner, and Greer Stimpson Stephens; his brother, William Herbert Stimpson; and 16 grandchildren--as well as the countless friends he leaves behind. Our thoughts and prayers are with them all at this difficult time.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize one of the exemplary servicemen who has served the great State of Alabama and our country in ensuring freedom for the American people. Brigadier General Bradford C. Brightman has not only offered his knowledge and expertise to the Nation while serving, but he has taught the men and women who have served under him to do the same. Today I wish to recognize his numerous accomplishments and honor his distinguished career on the occasion of his retirement from the United States Army.

General Brightman served our country for 1 year as a combat engineer enlisted man and then was commissioned on May 16, 1969, after completing the United States Army Engineer Officer Candidate School. He served on active duty from May 1969 until July 1975, during which time he spent 19 months of combat aviation duty with the 1st Aviation Brigade in Vietnam. He also served as an Operations Officer and Flight Instructor at the United States Army Aviation School, Fort Rucker, Alabama, before leaving active duty in August 1975 and joining the Alabama National Guard.

As a member of the National Guard, General Brightman served his country in a number of aviation unit assignments and in staff positions with group and higher headquarters. These positions have also included assignments as the Deputy Commander of the 62nd Troop Command in Montgomery and Commander of the 226th Area Support Group in Mobile, Alabama.

General Brightman has received numerous awards during his service including the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal, the Army Reserve Components Achievements Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, and the Humanitarian Service Medal. He has also been awarded the Armed Forces Reserve Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Unit Citation, Master Army Aviator Badge, Senior Army Aviator Badge, Veterans Service Medal of Alabama, Special Service Medal of Alabama, and the Faithful Service Medal of Alabama.

In addition to his successful military career, General Brightman has also achieved success in the academic arena, earning a degree in civil engineering from Auburn University in 1977 and his MBA from Troy State University in 1985. He attended three military educational facilities including Army Command and General Staff College, Associate Logistics Executive Development Course, and the Army War College. In 1992, General Brightman received the United States Civilian Achievement Award for his participation in the writing of the Panama Canal Treaty Implementation Plan. Currently, General Brightman works as a Senior Project Manager with a management and engineering services company in Mobile.

Mr. Speaker, Brigadier General Bradford C. Brightman has selflessly offered his life and services for his country. It is for this devotion that I would like to extend our most sincere thanks and gracious appreciation on the occasion of his retirement. While the United States Army National Guard will certainly miss the benefit of his leadership and experience, I know I join with his family and many friends and colleagues in wishing him continued success in the years ahead.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride and pleasure that I rise to honor the Honorable Otha Lee Biggs, Judge of Probate for Monroe County, Alabama, on the occasion of his being honored by the Coosa- Alabama River Improvement Association. For the past thirty years, he has served this organization with a high level of commitment and dedication to the success of waterways systems in the State of Alabama, traits that also extend to the service he has provided for the families which he has been elected to serve and represent.

Judge Biggs first joined CARIA in 1970, following his first election to the position of Judge of Probate and chairman of the Monroe County Commission. In the three decades since that time, he has made thirty- three consecutive annual trips to Washington, D.C., to meet with members of Alabama's congressional delegation to advocate for the interests of critical river projects and solicit funding for their completion. His tireless work on behalf of this organization has resulted in his being awarded CARIA's prestigious Dr. R.F. Henry Outstanding Service Award.

His tremendous work ethic and dedication have also been strongly evident in his commitment to economic development in his home county. Following his election in 1970, Judge Biggs immediately set about working to make Monroe County a shining example of growth in South Alabama. Through his efforts and work as both an elected official and unofficial ambassador for the residents of his area, Judge Biggs and the members of the county commission secured commitments from several large-scale corporations and businesses to build, relocate, or expand already existing facilities in Monroe County. Numbered among these are Alabama River Pulp, FDR Plastics, Stayfast, Inc., Vanity Fair Intimates, and B&B Cabinet Doors, LLC. As a result of his work and the work of everyone involved in the county's economic development program, Monroe County at one time led the entire State of Alabama in new job creation.

In addition to Monroe County's economic life, Judge Biggs has also been instrumental in helping that area preserve and promote its strong literary and historic heritage. As the birthplace and home of such internationally known writers as Nelle Harper Lee, Truman Capote, and Mark Childress, Monroe County has been firmly established as the ``Literary Capital of Alabama,'' and Otha Lee Biggs has done tremendous work to ensure this reputation extends beyond county and state lines and reaches an international audience. In recent years, the number of tourists visiting the area has increased exponentially as a result of the significant amount of publicity, both nationally and globally, that the county has received. Additionally, he was instrumental in the creation of annual performances of the stage adaptation of Miss Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, and his work on behalf of the county museum and theater troupe has resulted in the production securing permission to perform on stage

at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., and at festivals in Great Britain and Israel.

Finally, he served for many years on the board of trustees for the University of South Alabama and fought tirelessly for the interests of the thousands of students, faculty members, and staff who have been involved in the life of that institution since its founding in the early 1960s.

Mr. Speaker, during my twenty years of work in the House of Representative, both as a staffer and now as the representative for Alabama's First Congressional District, I have met few public servants as committed and dedicated to the well-being of their community as Judge Otha Lee Biggs. With a tenacity and work ethic matched only by his kindness and generosity, he truly represents the finest example of both a southern gentleman and fine public servant. I have certainly learned a great deal from him during our many years of association, and have during that time been proud and deeply honored to develop a strong friendship with him. Monroe County and, indeed, all of South Alabama have benefited greatly from his experience and wisdom, and he has been a great friend to many people.

Along with his many friends and colleagues, not only in the Coosa- Alabama River Improvement Association but throughout the State of Alabama, I wish to extend to Judge Otha Lee Biggs my warmest congratulations on the receipt of the Dr. R.F. Henry Outstanding Service Award.

Mr. Speaker, on Friday, January 16, the First Congressional District of Alabama and, indeed, our entire State and Nation, said goodbye to another casualty of the war in Iraq.

Army Chief Warrant Officer Philip A. Johnson, Jr., was a native of Davenport, Iowa, and a longtime resident of Mobile, Alabama. He originally joined the United States Marine Corps in 1993 and transferred to the Army in 1997, where he was serving his 6th year. He was a member of the 501st Medivac Unit attached to the 4th Infantry Division. He and his wife, Melissa Johnson, a member of the Air Force, were living in Colorado Springs, Colorado, when Philip's unit was activated and deployed to Iraq last year.

On January 8, 2004, the medical helicopter he was on crashed about 4 miles south of Fallujah, a stronghold of anti-American insurgency. U.S. military officials have confirmed that a rocket struck the helicopter before it went down. CWO Johnson and eight other soldiers died in this crash.

Philip, who lived in Mobile for several years, was a devoted husband, son, and brother. He was a committed soldier who was not only doing what he wanted to do, but doing what he loved. He truly felt he was doing the right thing. Philip had given 9 years of his life fighting for the lives of the American people. Tragically, Philip A. Johnson, Jr., became the third soldier from Alabama's First Congressional District to die in Iraq.

According to his parents, Philip recently told them he never realized that you have to teach people to be free. His mother, Barbara Johnson, said, ``He died doing what he loved; it was just a little early.''

Mr. Speaker, it is only appropriate for us to pause and give thanks to God that there are still young men like Philip A. Johnson, Jr. He represented what is best about America.

I urge my colleagues to take a moment and pay tribute to Chief Warrant Officer Philip A.

Johnson, Jr., and his selfless devotion to not only our country and the freedom we enjoy, but to a people who are but now in the infant stages of a new life, a new freedom in their own land.

We should also remember his wife, Melissa; his parents, Philip Johnson, Sr., and Barbara Johnson; and his two younger brothers, Matthew and Peter. May God give them the strength and courage that only He can provide to sustain them during the difficult days ahead.

It was Joseph Campbell who said, ``A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.'' Make no mistake, Philip A. Johnson, Jr., was not only a dedicated soldier who made the ultimate sacrifice serving in the uniform of his country; but he was also a true American hero.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride and pleasure that I rise to pay tribute to the Honorable John F. Butler on the occasion of his retirement from the bench of the Mobile County Circuit Court. For the past 21 years, Judge Butler has served the families of the State of Alabama with compassion, dedication, and a tremendous level of commitment.

Beginning in 1971, with his appointment as referee for the juvenile court, Judge Butler has devoted his life to the well-being of young people in south Alabama. In addition to his three terms as circuit court judge, he has served 2 decades as the presiding juvenile court judge of Mobile County. Along with his duties on the bench, Judge Butler has also operated the Strickland Youth Center and was instrumental in the creation of area Boys and Girls Club programs, the Camp Martin Leadership Academy, the Girls Reaching Womanhood Thru Healing (GROWTH) program, and Pointe Academy for juvenile offenders. Without fail, Judge Butler has focused a tremendous level of energy and time on his efforts to help young men and women overcome the difficulties of their past and become focused and successful members of their community.

Along with his many professional responsibilities, Judge Butler has also served as a member of numerous statewide juvenile justice programs. This long list includes service as chairman of the Governor's Advisory Council on Youth, a term as president of the Alabama Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, and 8 years as a trustee to the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges. His work in these areas, as well as his professional accomplishments, has also resulted in public recognition and many awards during his long years of public service.

Judge Butler is also one of America's proud veterans, having served for many years in the United States Army. Following his graduation

from college, he enlisted in the Army as a private and after a period of outstanding service received a direct commission as a second lieutenant. A veteran of the war in Vietnam and the recipient of the Bronze Star and nine other medals, Judge Butler retired as a colonel from the United States Army Reserve in 1995.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in recognizing Judge John Butler for his tremendous contributions to the citizens of the First Congressional District of Alabama. The experience and enthusiasm he brought to his job and the concern and compassion he displayed for the young people of the region are unquestioned and unparalleled. He has indeed been a genuine asset both to the circuit court and to the thousands of men, women, and children he has assisted over the past 2 decades. I am proud and honored to call him my friend.

Make no mistake, the judge's talents and experience on the bench will be sorely missed, but I am confident he will continue to remain actively involved in the life of the Mobile community for many years to come. Along with his friends and colleagues throughout Alabama, I wish to extend to Judge Butler and his family all the best now and in the future.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride and pleasure that I rise to honor Mr. Ed Swan on the occasion of his retirement from the Mobile district office of the Social Security Administration. For the past 30 years, he has served the families of the State of Alabama with compassion, dedication, and a tremendous level of commitment to the men, women, and children served by the Social Security Administration.

Beginning in June 1973, with his first assignment to the Social Security office in Mobile, Alabama, Ed Swan worked for 3 decades in a succession of representative and supervisory roles in five Social Security offices throughout the State. His outstanding record as a service representative, claims representative, operations supervisor, branch manager, and management assistant in the Social Security system resulted in positive results for the many families who benefited from his efforts. Additionally, the work ethic he displayed resulted in his receiving numerous citations and awards, including a Regional Commissioner's Team Citation for his work with the Disability Claims Manager pilot program in Mobile.

Ed Swan is also one of America's proud veterans, having served in the United States Navy with distinction while assigned to Air Squadron 27 on board the aircraft carrier USS Intrepid.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in recognizing Ed Swan for his tremendous contributions to the citizens of the First Congressional District of Alabama. The experience and enthusiasm he brought to his job and to the Social Security Administration will indeed be missed, but I have no doubt he will turn his talents to many other positive pursuits in the days and months to come. Ed has indeed been a genuine asset both to his agency and to the thousands of men and women he assisted over the past 3 decades, and I have been proud to call him my friend.

Along with his many friends and colleagues throughout Alabama, I wish to extend to Ed Swan; his lovely wife, Cynthia; and their children, Jason and Kellie all the best in the months and years ahead.

Mr. Speaker, Escambia County, AL, and indeed the entire First Congressional District, recently lost a dear friend, and I rise today to honor him and pay tribute to his memory.

Judge Devon Wiggins was a devoted family man and dedicated public servant throughout his entire life. Following a lengthy tenure on the Escambia County Commission, twelve years of which he spent as the commission chairman, Judge Wiggins was elected to the position of Judge of Probate, a position he held until his retirement three years ago. Throughout his professional career, he was dedicated to bringing better opportunities to all the residents of Escambia County and was a tireless advocate for local business and industry. He also was dedicated to making himself and other county offices as accessible as possible to the general public and, through his efforts, garnered the respect and admiration of many individuals in both the public and private sectors.

As a small business owner in Brewton, Alabama, Judge Wiggins was extremely familiar with the challenges and goals of running a successful business and providing employment opportunities for hardworking men and women. It was this background and his tremendous work ethic which became hallmarks of his career in public office and which marked his efforts on behalf of all residents of Escambia County.

Judge Wiggins was also actively involved in his community, participating in church-related organizations and taking a leadership role in the activities of the Brewton Lions Club. His devotion to his fellow man was unmatched, and I do not think there will ever be a full accounting of the many people he helped over the course of his lifetime.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in remembering a dedicated public servant and long-time advocate for Escambia County, Alabama. Judge Wiggins will be deeply missed by his family--his wife, Nell Wiggins, his daughters, Dawn Wiggins Hare, Donna Wiggins Schlager, and Daphne Wiggins Martin, his son, Maxwell Devon Wiggins, and his six grandchildren--as well as the countless friends he leaves behind. Our thoughts and prayers are with them all at this difficult time.

Mr. Speaker, on November 17 I was unavoidably detained in my district and was not able to vote on rollcall votes numbered 620, 621, 622, and 623. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall 620, ``aye'' on rollcall 621, ``aye'' on rollcall 622, and ``aye'' on rollcall 623.

Mr. Speaker, on November 4, I was not able to vote on rollcall votes Nos. 602 and 603. I was unavoidably detained in my district. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall 602 and ``aye'' on rollcall 603.

Mr. Speaker, this past Monday the First Congressional District of Alabama and indeed, our entire State and Nation, said goodbye to another casualty of the war in Iraq.

Army Specialist Paul Joseph Bueche, a native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and longtime resident of Daphne, Alabama, joined the Army National Guard in 2001 and was assigned to Company E of the 131st Aviation Regiment based in Birmingham.

Earlier this year, Paul's unit was activated and deployed to the Kingdom of Kuwait during Operation Iraqi Freedom. In August of this year, his unit was transferred to its new duty station in Balad, Iraq. It was in Balad that, on October 21, 2003, a tire he was changing on an Army MH-60 Blackhawk helicopter exploded, killing Paul and seriously wounding one of his fellow soldiers.

During his 2-year career in the National Guard, Paul set a standard of excellence and displayed the qualities of discipline, devotion and dedication to country that are the hallmarks of men and women throughout the long and distinguished history of the American military. As a result of his hard work in the Middle Eastern Theater, Paul was recently advanced to the rank of Specialist, and he was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star medal and accompanying citation.

Mr. Speaker, as you can imagine, south Alabama is truly mourning the loss of this fine young man. In conversations with his friends and family, the one characteristic that was mentioned time and again when describing Paul was his love for life. As the Rev. Timothy Deasy noted during Paul's funeral mass, ``he lived more in 19 years than many of us live in a lifetime. Paul gave his life for all of us.''

A devoted brother, son, and grandson, Paul Bueche never waned in his appreciation for the many wonderful gifts of love and friendship that came his way during his brief 19 years. To a person, his fellow students and teachers from McGill-Toolen High School, his minister and fellow parishioners at Christ the King Catholic Church, and his many other family and friends spoke affectionately of Paul's boundless energy and enthusiasm and the genuinely warm feelings he displayed for his fellow man.

A telling story of his generosity came just days before he died. Recently, Paul had won a lottery held within his unit in Iraq which would have allowed him a 2-week furlough back in the United States in December. However, Paul chose to give that pass to a fellow guardsman from the unit, feeling it was more important that he--a husband and father--be at home with a wife and children who needed him more during the holidays.

Mr. Speaker, it is only right for us to pause and give thanks to God that there are still young men like Paul Joseph Bueche. On his handsome, young face, the world can see the very best America has to offer.

I urge my colleagues to take a moment and pay tribute to Specialist Paul Bueche and his selfless devotion to not only our country and the freedom we enjoy, but to a people who are but now in the infant stages of a new life--a new freedom--in their own land.

We should also remember his parents, Emory Paul and Maria Bueche, his sisters Jessica and Melissa, and his grandparents, Sydney and Doris Bueche and Jose and Ilena Alonso. Our prayer is that God will give them all the strength and courage that only He can provide to sustain them during the difficult days ahead.

It was Joseph Campbell who said, ``A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.'' Make no mistake, young Paul Bueche was not only a dedicated soldier who made the ultimate sacrifice serving in the uniform of his country, but he was also a true American hero.

In addition to my statement, I ask that an accompanying article from the October 25th Mobile Register, written by Robert Buchanan, be included in this tribute to Paul. May he rest in peace.

A Time Too Soon To Comprehend

There is a time for everything,

And a season for every activity under heaven:

A time to be born and a time to die,

A time to plant and a time to uproot,

A time to kill and a time to heal,

A time to tear down and a time to build,

A time to weep and a time to laugh,

A time to mourn and a time to dance,

A time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,

A time to embrace and a time to refrain,

A time to search and a time to give up,

A time to keep and a time to throw away,

A time to tear and a time to mend,

A time to be silent and a time to speak,

A time to love and a time to hate,

A time for war and a time for peace.

--Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

When you cradle your infant in your arms, rocking back and forth while reading to his young ears, more than likely it will be from a book of fairy tales with glorious, happy endings. Surely, though, it's not the time to tell him that the 16 lines from Ecclesiastes sum up the life that he will face. Of course, he couldn't comprehend it, nor would you want him to; life as a baby has its own time for being, for growing and for learning.

A time to be born and a time to die.

It's left to the parents to do the worrying, often quietly, without evidence that there is harm in that infant's way. As he grows to be a toddler, it's the parents who fret about the stumbling boy crashing into furniture, hitting walls, slapping the sofa. The rite of passage into official boyhood comes with its share of nicks and scratches. But a boy he is, and a boy he will be.

The years evaporate, and your baby boy is a man. Your concerns, however, have grown with him. You watched him waddle in a sand box, not thinking that one day his life could end in the sands of an Iraqi village so small that it would be difficult to spot on a map.

It's too soon for a 19-year-old to die.

We humans comprehend this, lacking the understanding of why someone so young should leave this Earth now. It's even more heartbreaking for parents to have a son die before them.

It's not supposed to be this way.

A time to weep and a time to laugh.

The order of life has turned upside down for Emory and Maria Bueche. They have already told stories--terrific stories--about their son, Paul. They have shared them with family, friends and the media. It's a normal therapeutic exercise to keep their minds clear while preparing for funeral services.

Others will share their stories, bringing more laughter and tears. They'll be proud of the people Paul touched in his short life. They'll be proud he died serving his country. The Bueches won't be able to feel it, yet all the parents of our American babies will share in their pain.

Meanwhile, three more American soldiers die in Iraq. Three more sets of parents are experiencing the trauma of children passing too soon. All of us will be suffering along with them.

There is a time for everything.

Paul was a member of the 2002 graduating class of McGill-Toolen Catholic High School. Local television stations grabbed yearbooks from his days at McGill, showing Paul's smiling portrait in a row of students' photos.

A telephone call went to the cherubic looking youngster in the picture to the left of Paul. He's now a young college man, sans the rounded face.

``Paul Bueche died in Iraq,'' he's told.

``What?'' he answers. ``I didn't know he was over there. Oh, my God. What happened?''

He is told about the unfortunate circumstances, but the explanation falls flat. A classmate had died; the first member of the 2002 class was gone. It's too incredible for the student to absorb.

``Man, he was cool. We were in the Model U.N. together. I mean . . . I can't believe it. What happened?

``Of all the people over there, that accident, it happened to one of us.''

The McGill-Toolen senior class of 2002 was close, unusually close. The Bueches recalled how their house was always full of kids, that it wasn't unusual to wake up and find Paul's friends asleep on the den floor.

That was the class of 2002.

From house to house, class members found parents with open doors. Now these same parents are sharing the Bueches' ache, along with their young-adult children who are experiencing a type of grief they were not prepared to handle. It's just too soon.

Eventually, though, they will realize that Paul's death was not in vain, for there are few earthly callings higher than sacrificing for one's country, for one's friends back home.

In the meantime, they can pray and take solace that there will be a time for peace.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the service and sacrifice of Captain Richard C. Yeend, Jr. Capt. Yeend was serving as the co-pilot of an HH-3E, ``Jolly Green Giant'' helicopter sent to rescue a Marine pilot when the helicopter was shot down over Laos on June 9, 1968. Captain Yeend was listed as killed in action/body not recovered until his remains, along with the rest of the crew, were identified and returned home in September. He was buried September 28, 2003, thirty-five years after his helicopter was shot down.

Captain Yeend was raised in Mobile, Alabama, as the second of five children. He was a member of the Air Force ROTC at Auburn University and went on to flight school. After flying B-52s for several years, he volunteered for helicopter flight school as the Vietnam conflict escalated. Captain Yeend was deployed to Vietnam in February of 1968. His service to our country is evidenced by the awards he was awarded posthumously, including the Silver Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross with two oak leaf clusters, the Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters, and the Purple Heart.

On October 11, 2003, on what would have been his 65th birthday, hundreds gathered at the Lower Alabama Vietnam Veterans Memorial at Battleship Memorial Park in Mobile to pay tribute to Captain Yeend, a man whose heroic efforts have not been forgotten. Retired Navy Rear Admiral Jeremiah Denton, who was a prisoner of war for over seven years during Vietnam, was the featured speaker. Admiral Denton praised Captain Yeend for his service and the Yeend family for its continued devotion to their country throughout their years of hardship, waiting while their loved one's remains were unaccounted for. He praised Captain Yeend along with all the Vietnam veterans in the audience for their service and assured everyone that their efforts were appreciated by all.

Captain Richard Yeend was a man whose honor and devotion to his family and his country were seen in his daily acts of courage and his willingness to take on heroic acts. A man of great character and respect, Captain Yeend

was a leader in all aspects of his life. His siblings looked to him for guidance and support. With his remains now returned home and at rest, may they have some peace and closure and know that he will be honored for his heroic actions. His sacrifice is a tribute to everyone that fought and those who continue to fight for the betterment of others and for the spirit of freedom which so many people throughout the world still yearn for.

I urge my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to Captain Yeend and in offering our condolences to his family for their loss and their struggle through the years as they awaited his final trip home.