Political Quotes

“I am so honored that we have this legislation before us. H.R. 4918 honors a brave soldier, a brave marine, who gave his life for our country. And this legislation to name the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center located in my hometown of Miami, Florida, as the ``Bruce W. Carter Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center'' is a great honor not just to the family and to the legacy that Bruce left, but also it honors the selfless sacrifice of all of our members and all of our veterans. Bruce was born in New York, and he moved with his family to Texas, then Louisiana, and then they settled in South Florida. He attended Miami Springs Elementary School and then Miami Springs High School before enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps in Jacksonville, Florida. He was promoted to Private First Class January 1, 1969, and deployed to Vietnam in April of that year, serving as a radio operator with Hotel Company, 2nd battalion, 3rd Marines, 3rd Marine Division. Sadly, his hopes, his dreams, his lifelong ambitions were brutally cut short in Vietnam. On August 7, 1969, in combat north of the Vandegrift base in the Quang Tri province, Private First Class Carter threw himself on an enemy grenade, giving his life in service to our country so that his fellow Marines could survive. His sacrifice embodies the honor, the courage, and the commitment to freedom which is characteristic of both a hero and a United States Marine.”