Patrick J. Murphy

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a great American, a great coach, a leader among men, who is an icon of college football and is one of Penn State's greatest treasures. Joe has just recently won his 400th college victory. More importantly, Joe's greatest accomplishments are not found on the football field, but in the young men that he has prepared for the game of life. I ask that this tribute penned in honor of him by Albert Caswell be placed in the Record.

Pa . . . Terno Instincts

Upon, these fields of green . . .

Have but come, year after year . . . such young men who dare

to dream . . .

Specimens, of such great strength and speed . . . of might,

almost like supermen who lead . . .

Who one day must walk off this great stage, with what now to

carry them through their days?

And what do they now have so left, when their days of glory

are gone to them to bless?

For sixty so odd years, as have so here . . .

As have such young men, so appeared . . .

From boys to men, at Penn State to be so endeared . . .

To be blessed, by Joe Pa to be near . . .

Upon, these fields of green so here . . .

For one man, one coach . . . has stood on principle, oh so

very clear . . .

To help build lives, build futures . . . as has he so strived

each year . . .

While, watching over them . . . from boys to men . . .

Like a Shepherd, watching over his flock . . . time, and time

again . . .

Giving them hopes and dreams, discipline and honor to each

and every one it seems . . .

Like a Father . . . Like a Son . . . as ``with each student,

this new family has run . . .

Leading, guiding, coaching, teaching, loving each and every

one!

With but his Pa Terno Instincts and dreams . . .

As Joe Pa, has guided them from their teens . . . Showing

them all how life is won!

Molding them all, into such fine men . . . all upon these

fields of green . . .

His gift to all, a future . . . way beyond these fields of

dreams . . .

Education first! As now we see Joe Pa's fine worth . . .

As this great love affair, brings such tears to eyes . . . as

Joe Pa's Terno instincts, give rise!

For Joe, is a giver not a taker . . . bringing boys to men,

to new heights as they awake here . . .

For few will run in NFL's sun, so what do they so have left

when all is done?

A future! Over four hundred career wins are great . . .

But, Joe Pa spells victory . . . with one word, ``Graduate!''

With but his heart of lion, for all of them, Joe Pa will

never stop trying!

Oh, upon these fields of green . . . to mold boys to men, to

live their dreams . . .

But to have thousands and thousands, of loving sons . . .

No greater blessing, or victory to be won . . .

With but Joe's Pa... terno Instincts . . . he has willed, all

on these fields of green . . .

For upon these fields of green, Joe . . . Pa is a winner who

has won . . .

But, In The Game of Life . . . Joe Pa is but a Champion this

one!

Mr. Speaker, today we have a chance to do what is right, not just for gay and lesbian troops serving in our military, but what is right for national security.

When I deployed to Iraq as a captain with the 82nd Airborne Division, my team and I didn't care about someone else's sexual orientation. We cared whether everyone could do their job so we could all come home alive.

Already, dozens of other nations allow their troops to serve openly, including our greatest military allies, Great Britain and Israel, with no detrimental impact on their units' cohesion.

It's an insult to the troops I served with and to all our servicemembers fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan to say that they are somehow less professional or as mission capable as the members of these foreign militaries.

Now, we have heard every excuse under the sun. First it was, well, we need to study the issue. Well, the Pentagon finished their study and learned what we've known all along: repeal will not harm our military's operation.

Then it was we need to hear from our military leaders and our troops. They have spoken. The Secretary of Defense, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Commander in Chief, and the majority of our troops believe this policy should go.

Enough. Enough of the games. Enough of the politics. Our troops are the best of the best, and they deserve a Congress that puts their safety and our collective national security over rigid partisan interests and a closed-minded ideology.

The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen testified that this issue comes down to integrity, the integrity of our troops and the military as an institution.

Well, this is also about the integrity of this institution.

This is also about the integrity of this institution. This vote is about whether we're going to continue telling people willing to die for our freedoms that they need to lie in order to do so.

I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on repeal.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor members of the New Hope Eagle Volunteer Fire Company: President/ Fire Fighter Jim Finn; Chief Craig Forbes; Deputy Chief Frank Cosner, Jr.; Fire Fighter Keith McMullen; Fire Marshal Daryl Jurbala; Company Secretary Linda Rowe, and Fire Fighter/Safety Officer Frank Cosner, Sr.

On September 31, 2010, a giant construction barge broke free of its anchoring mechanisms and began drifting down the Delaware River toward the New Hope-Lambertville Bridge. This barge was meant to be a work platform and was equipped with a lifter and small crane, which could have caused major damage to the New Hope-Lambertville Bridge. Without the crucial decisionmaking and help of the New Hope Fire Company and its volunteers, this could have ended in disaster. They displayed incredible skill and bravery in their actions and for that they are honored.

Madam Speaker, I am proud to recognize and honor the individuals for their bravery and quick thinking in a time of great distress. I am honored to serve as their Congressman.