CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E269 to discourage unauthorized workers from en- I am besieged by a thousand or more of the Illinois: Jonathan L. Lindley. tering this country illegally to seek work. En- enemy under Santa Anna. I have sustained a Kentucky: Peter James Bailey III, James suring a legal workforce must be a key com- continual bombardment and cannon fire for Bowie, Daniel William Cloud, Jacob C. Darst, over 24 hours, but I have not lost a man. John Davis, William H. Fauntleroy, John E. ponent of any immigration bill moving through The enemy has demanded surrender at its Gaston, John Harris, William Daniel Jack- Congress. discretion. Otherwise, the fort will be put to son, Green B. Jameson, John Benjamin Kel- I look forward to working with my colleagues the sword. I have answered that demand with logg, Andrew Kent, Joseph Rutherford, B. to build on this proposal to achieve a bipar- a cannon shot. And the flag still waves Archer M. Thomas, Joseph G. Washington. tisan solution to immigration reform. proudly over the north wall. Louisiana: Charles Despallier, James W. I shall never surrender or retreat. I call Garrand, Joseph Kerr, Isaac Ryan. f upon you, in the name of liberty and patriot- Maryland: Charles S. Smith. HONORING BROOKE EDWARDS ism and everything dear to the American Massachusetts: John Flanders, William D. character, to come to my aid with all dis- Howell, William Linn, Amos Pollard. patch. If this call is neglected, I am deter- Mississippi: M.B. Clark, Isaac Millsaps, HON. LYNN A. WESTMORELAND mined to sustain myself for as long as pos- Willis A. Moore, George Pagan, Christopher OF GEORGIA sible, die like a soldier who never forgets Adams Parker. what is due his honor and that of his coun- Missouri: William Charles M. Baker, IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES try. Victory or death. George D. Butler, Charles Henry Clark, Thursday, February 28, 2008 As a child, I was so intrigued by this letter. George Washington Cottle, Jerry C. Day, I would always be the first in my class to vol- George W. Tumlinson. Mr. WESTMORELAND. Madam Speaker, I New Hampshire: Robert E. Cochran. rise today to recognize an essay written by unteer to play Travis at any given opportunity, New Jersey: Richard Lucius Stockton. Brooke Edwards, a fourth grader from Flippen if only just to read his words aloud. To me, he New York: Robert W. Cunningham, Lewis Elementary School in McDonough, Georgia. was the ultimate hero. Travis and his rag-tag Dewall, Samuel B. Evans, John Hubbard Her school sponsored a writing contest in group of relentless freedom fighters, made up Forsyth, John Jones, James Tylee. which students answered the ever patriotic of men from nearly every State in the Union North Carolina: Micajah Autry, Dolphin question, ‘‘Why I’m Proud to be an American.’’ and 13 foreign countries, including Mexico, Ward Floyd, William Parks, Mial Scurlock, held off an entire army of several thousand for Joshua G. Smith, John W. Thomson, Clai- It is stories like these that inspire all citizens. borne Wright. I am proud to report to the U.S. House of 13 days. Defeat was not an option. Retreat Ohio: William B. Harrison, Tapely Holland, Representatives that Brooke won first place in was never on the table. Victory or death. And Robert Musselman, James M. Rose. the contest, I would like to submit her essay the rest is—as they say—Texas history. Pennsylvania: John J. Ballentine, James into the CONGRESSIONAL RECORD for all Ameri- History teaches us everything we need to Murry Brown, John Cain (Cane), Robert cans to read. know, if we just look. This letter was written Crossman, David P. Cummings, James nearly 2 centuries ago and its message still Hannum, Samuel Holloway, William John- WHY I’M PROUD TO BEANAMERICAN rings true today. It’s a story of ‘‘liberty and pa- son, George C. Kimble (Kimbell), William My name is Brooke Edwards and I’m a McDowell, John Purdy Reynolds, John M. fourth grader. I go to Flippen Elementary triotism and everything dear to the American character.’’ Freedom is still worth dying for. Thurston, Hiram James Williamson, John School in McDonough, Georgia. I’m proud to Wilson. live in Georgia because it is in the United And to do so as a soldier, ‘‘is what is due his Rhode Island: Albert Martin. States and I’m proud to be an American. honor and that of his country.’’ South Carolina: James Butler Bonham, What do I like about America? I like our Travis believed these words, believed that Lemuel Crawford, George Neggan, Edward freedom, military, and our 4th of July. the cause for independence was his life. Our Nelson, George Nelson, Cleveland Kinloch My first reason why I’m proud to be an freedom fighters today understand these Simmons, William Barrett Travis. American is freedom. I like our freedom be- words as well, they know that America is Tennessee: Joseph Bayliss, John Blair, cause we don’t have kings or queens bossing worth fighting for and that defeat is not an op- Samuel C. Blair, Jesse B. Bowman, James us around. For example, England has a (Robert) Campbell, David Crockett, Squire queen. We can vote for our presidents. In tion. We must not neglect the call. Daymon, William Dearduff, Almeron America we have a choice that other coun- Unfortunately, the call for help was not an- Dickerson (Dickinson), John Henry Dillard, tries don’t have. swered in time. Commander Travis and 187 James L. Ewing, James Girard Garret, An- My next reason is our military. Brave men volunteers sacrificed their lives on the altar of drew Jackson Harrison, Charles M. Haskell, and women fight everyday all around the freedom after 13 glorious days at the Alamo. John M. Hays, William Marshall, Jesse world for our freedom. We wouldn’t be free if The youngest to die for Texas was 15-year-old McCoy, Robert McKinney, Thomas R. Miller, we didn’t have the military. We have men William Phillip King. The oldest to die was William Mills, Andrew M. Nelson, James Wa- and women who are veterans. They served Gordon C. Jennings. He was 56. Their sac- ters Robertson, Andrew H. Smith, A. Spain our country and made me feel proud. rifice would later be remembered along the Summerlin, William E. Summers, Edward My final reason is our 4th of July. On the banks of the San Jacinto as GEN Sam Hous- Taylor, George Taylor, James Taylor, Wil- 4th of July, we celebrate our freedom and liam Taylor, Asa Walker, Jacob Walker. have fun too. We also celebrate our flag on ton led the Texans to victory and freedom. But Texas: Juan Abamillo, Juan Antonio the 4th of July because it stands for Amer- their courage will never be forgotten. Badillo, Carlos Espalier, Gregorio (Jose ica. I love the 4th of July! Travis isn’t just my favorite Texas war hero, Maria Esparza, Antonio Fuentes, Damacio There are many reasons I like being an he has intertwined himself throughout my life Jimenez, William Phillip King, William American. I like our freedom, military, and and even the lives of my children and grand- Irvine Lewis, William J. Lightfoot, Jose our 4th of July. These are my favorite parts children. He is the inspiration behind my pro- Toribio Losoya, Andres Nava, Richardson of America. fession. I always wanted to be a great lawyer Perry. Vermont: Miles Deforest Andross. f like William Barrett Travis. My grandson, Bar- Virginia: Robert Allen, John J. Baugh, rett Houston, is even named after Travis. In- WILLIAM BARRETT TRAVIS William R. Carey, William Garnett, John scribed along the bottom of my stationery are Camp Goodrich, Patrick Henry Herndon, his words, ‘‘I shall never surrender or retreat,’’ James Kenny, George Washington Main, Ed- HON. TED POE and for as long as I can remember, I end ward F. Mitchasson, Robert B. Moore, James OF TEXAS every letter with his famous words, ‘‘God and Northcross. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Texas.’’ Because of men like William Barrett Denmark: Charles Zanco. Travis, Texas is the great State that it is England: William Blazeby, Daniel Bourne, Thursday, February 28, 2008 George Brown, Stephen (or Ireland) today. His legacy embodies the passion and Mr. POE. Madam Speaker, it all started way Dennison, James R. Dimpkins, James C. loyalty that make Texans stand out around the Gwynne, William Daniel Hersee, James back in 7th grade, Mrs. Wilson made Texas world. Nowlan, Marcus L. Sewell, Richard Starr, history come alive and my fascination with And that’s just the way it is. James E. Stewart, Thomas Waters, Anthony Texas legends like Sam Houston, Davy Crock- DEFENDERS OF THE ALAMO WHO SACRIFICED (Avram) Wolfe, son age 12 Wolfe, son age 11 ett, James Bowie, and of course my personal THEIR LIVES Wolfe. favorite, William Barrett Travis, took root. It Alabama: James Buchanan, William Ireland: Samuel E. Burns, Andrew Duvalt, was this month, 172 years ago, that Travis, a Fishbaugh, Galba Fuqua, Issac White. Robert Evans, Joseph M. Hawkins, Thomas 27-year-old lawyer, penned the most famous Arkansas: Issac G. Baker, Jesse G. Thomp- Jackson, James McGee, Jackson J. Rusk, son, Henry Warnell, Burke Trammel, William B. Ward. letter in Texas history from behind the walls of Connecticut: Gordon C. Jennings. Germany: Henry Courtman, Henry Thom- a besieged, rundown mission in San Antonio. Georgia: Albert (Alfred) Calvin Grimes, as. ‘‘To the people of Texas and all Americans William T. Malone, Elice (Eliel) Melton, Scotland: Richard W. Ballentine, John in the world, fellow citizens and compatriots, Manson Shied, William Wells, William Wills McGregor, Isaac Robinson, David L.