Cliff Stearns: “I was with Floyd on his last trip. We flew into Paris to go to the Lafayette Escadrille Memorial, a memorial to…”

“I was with Floyd on his last trip. We flew into Paris to go to the Lafayette Escadrille Memorial, a memorial to recognize 60 Americans in World War I who fought with the French against the Germans. These 60 individuals were killed in France, and they were memorialized at the Lafayette Escadrille, a large memorial. Congressman Spence led the delegation, and I gave a speech on their behalf, and he was a strong participant. I will cherish that trip because that was the last time I spent any time with Floyd. I think, as pointed out by other speakers, he was a gentleman in the real sense of the word, but he also had a spirit, a spirit of survival, a spiritual makeup that one felt he was in tune with the Lord, and that he continually reminded all of us to appreciate each and every day. I will miss him when he used to come up on the House floor and say hello. He would always have that kind of expression, and when asked how he was doing, he would respond, I am here and I am very thankful. When we talk about a person's life, if Members can talk about him with a certain sense of joy, I think that is a positive thing, and I think we are here tonight to say in many ways he brought joy to our lives with his spirit. I am speaking tonight about his accomplishments, but also about his spirit.”