April 26, 2007 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5161 family. I know they are still searching This statement is just as true today as it was minded of President Lincoln’s remarks for answers. But I hope the reverence nearly 150 years ago, as I am certain that the as he addressed the families of the fall- and respect this Senate shows Sergeant impact of Shaun’s actions will live on far en soldiers in Gettysburg: longer that any record of these words. Tackett will remind them that he lived It is my sad duty to enter the name We cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, and served as a hero, and his country we cannot hallow this ground. The brave of Shaun M. Blue in the official RECORD men, living and dead, who struggled here, will forever honor and remember his of the Senate for his service to this sacrifice. have consecrated it, far above our poor country and for his profound commit- power to add or detract. The world will little I ask my colleagues to keep the fam- ment to freedom, democracy, and note nor long remember what we say here, ily of SGT Joseph M. Tackett in their peace. When I think about this just but it can never forget what they did here. thoughts and prayers. I know they will cause in which we are engaged and the This statement is just as true today be in mine. unfortunate pain that comes with the as it was nearly 150 years ago, as I am f loss of our heroes, I hope that families certain that the impact of Neil’s ac- HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES like Shaun’s can find comfort in the tions will live on far longer that any words of the prophet Isaiah who said, record of these words. 1ST LIEUTENANT SHAUN M. BLUE ‘‘He will swallow up death in victory; It is my sad duty to enter the name Mr. BAYH. Mr. President, it is with a and the Lord God will wipe away tears of David Neil Simmons in the official heavy heart and deep sense of gratitude from off all faces.’’ RECORD of the United States Senate for that I honor the life of a brave young May God grant strength and peace to his service to this country and for his man from Munster. Shaun Blue, 25 those who mourn, and may God be with profound commitment to freedom, de- years old, died on April 16 while de- all of you, as I know He is with Shaun. mocracy, and peace. When I think ployed in Al Anbar Province on Oper- PRIVATE FIRST CLASS DAVID NEIL SIMMONS about this just cause in which we are ation Iraqi Freedom. With his entire Mr. President, it is with a heavy engaged, and the unfortunate pain that life before him, Shaun risked every- heart and deep sense of gratitude that comes with the loss of our heroes, I thing to fight for the values Americans I honor the life of a brave young man hope families like Neil’s can find com- hold close to our hearts, in a land half- from Kokomo. Neil Simmons, 20 years fort in the words of the prophet Isaiah way around the world. old, was killed on April 8th while de- who said, ‘‘He will swallow up death in Shaun was a lifelong Hoosier, grad- ployed in Baghdad, when his convoy victory; and the Lord God will wipe uating among the top 10 students of his encountered an improvised explosive away tears from off all faces.’’ class from Munster High School in 2000. device and insurgent fire. He had been May God grant strength and peace to He joined the military because, as his in Iraq for less than 2 weeks. With his those who mourn, and may God be with high school principal said, ‘‘He was one entire life before him, Neil risked ev- all of you, as I know He is with Neil. of those kids who did things everyone erything to fight for the values Ameri- SPECIALIST JASON J. BEADLES else was afraid to do.’’ His valor over cans hold close to our hearts, in a land Mr. President, it is with a heavy the course of his service in Iraq exem- halfway around the world. heart and deep sense of gratitude that plifies Hoosier values and courage. His Neil attended Kokomo’s North- I honor the life of a brave young man track and field coach at Munster High western High School and followed the from La Porte. Jason Beadles, 22 years described Shaun as a mentally tough example set by his father and uncle by old, died on April 11th while deployed kid saying, ‘‘The fact that he chose the enlisting in the Army a few months be- in Baghdad on Operation Iraqi Free- career path that he did didn’t surprise fore graduating in 2005. He enjoyed the dom. With his entire life before him, me. It was perfectly suited for him.’’ structure of the military and felt a Jason risked everything to fight for Shaun was killed by an improvised sense of duty to serve his community the values Americans hold close to our explosive device while serving his and country. His father described Neil hearts, in a land halfway around the country in Operation Iraqi Freedom. as ‘‘an avid outdoorsman who was world. He was a member of the 2nd Battalion, happy and always had plenty of Jason has been a lifelong Hoosier, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Divi- friends.’’ graduating from La Porte High School sion, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Neil was killed while serving his in 2003. He had been interested in tech- based in Twenty-nine Palms, CA. country in Operation Iraqi Freedom. nical engineering throughout high Today, I join Shaun’s family and He was a member of the 2nd Battalion, school, earning his welding certificate friends in mourning his death. While 69th Armor Regiment, 3rd Brigade from A.K. Smith Career Center before we struggle to bear our sorrow over Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, in graduating. Army Specialist Beadles this loss, we can also take pride in the Fort Benning, GA. Neil’s father re- enlisted in the Army as an engineer example he set, bravely fighting to flected on his son’s death, asking, after the attacks of 9/11. His valor over make the world a safer place. It is his ‘‘What’s the odds of, among 160,000 the course of his service in Iraq exem- courage and strength of character that troops your only child is there 1 week plifies Hoosier values and courage. He people will remember when they think and gets killed?’’ Private First Class decided to enlist because as his welding of Shaun, a memory that will burn Simmons leaves behind his father, instructor put it, ‘‘he was always con- brightly during these continuing days David, and uncle, Jim Simmons. cerned about other people.’’ Jason en- of conflict and grief. Today, I join Neil’s family and joyed the military, and he believed Shaun was known for his dedication friends in mourning his death. While that throughout all the hardships they to his community and his love of coun- we struggle to bear our sorrow over faced he and his company were helping try. Today and always, Shaun will be this loss, we can also take pride in the the Iraqi people. Jason died while serving his country remembered by family members, example he set, bravely fighting to in Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was a friends, and fellow Hoosiers as a true make the world a safer place. It is his member of the 887th Engineer Com- American hero, and we honor the sac- courage and strength of character that pany, 326th Engineer Battalion, 101st rifice he made while dutifully serving people will remember when they think Airborne Division (Air Assault), in his country. of Neil, a memory that will burn brightly during these continuing days Fort Campbell, KY. As I search for words to do justice in Today, I join Jason’s family and honoring Shaun’s sacrifice, I am re- of conflict and grief. Neil was known for his dedication to friends in mourning his death. While minded of President Lincoln’s remarks his family and his love of country. we struggle to bear our sorrow over as he addressed the families of the fall- Today and always, Neil will be remem- this loss, we can also take pride in the en soldiers in Gettysburg: bered by family members, friends, and example he set, bravely fighting to We cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, fellow Hoosiers as a true American make the world a safer place. It is his we cannot hallow this ground. The brave courage and strength of character that men, living and dead, who struggled here, hero, and we honor the sacrifice he have consecrated it, far above our poor made while dutifully serving his coun- people will remember when they think power to add or detract. The world will little try. of Jason, a memory that will burn note nor long remember what we say here, As I search for words to do justice in brightly during these continuing days but it can never forget what they did here. honoring Neil’s sacrifice, I am re- of conflict and grief. VerDate Mar 15 2010 22:25 Mar 13, 2014 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00039 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\2007SENATE\S26AP7.REC S26AP7 mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY S5162 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 26, 2007 Jason was known for his dedication we struggle to bear our sorrow over He was a member of the 2nd Battalion, to his community and his love of coun- this loss, we can also take pride in the 152nd Infantry Regiment, 76th Infantry try.