Political Quotes

“Mr. President, last week I had the opportunity to pay tribute to a gentleman by the name of Fred Becker. We knew him lovingly and affectionately as ``Bulldog.'' He was a veteran and a veterans activist. He passed away on June 11. This past Friday, Bulldog's remains were interred at Fort Richardson in Anchorage. He occupied a very special place in my heart, so it was important that I be there to attend those services. It was really quite a spectacle. Bulldog was a leader of several veterans motorcycle groups. So there were more than 100 of his fellow veterans--all on bikes--who accompanied the remains to the final resting place there at Fort Richardson Cemetery. But if that were not special enough, in and of itself, there were several hundred airmen and soldiers--some say 400--that were lined up once you went through the gates there on Fort Richardson. About every 10 feet, there was an airman or a soldier for almost 2 miles into where the ceremony was. These individuals were there to pay tribute to a man who every day--every day--worked to show respect to other veterans and worked to ensure that the service and the sacrifice of those veterans would never be forgotten. So at every ceremony--whether it was Veterans Day or Memorial Day or a salute to the military or to the change of command and at every retirement--Bulldog was there. So it was so inspiring to be there and to see the tribute paid to this amazing man. It was Col.…”