Political Quotes

“I would like to mark the passing of an American hero. Retired Four-Star GEN Wayne Downing, a native of Peoria, IL, passed away on Wednesday. General Downing personified the ideal that was ingrained into him and all cadets at West Point: ``Duty, Honor, Country.'' He spent most of his adult life wearing his country's uniform and continued to answer the call to serve even after retirement. When General Downing retired after 34 years of military service in 1996, he was one of the country's leaders on terrorism. After three decades as an Army Ranger, he had spent more time developing and implementing anti-terrorist and insurgent tactics than just about any man alive. His devotion to service came early in his life. Growing up in Peoria, his mother would read to him news reports from the battlefields of Europe where his father, PFC Francis Downing, was part of the 9th Armored Division, leading the American charge into Nazi Germany. Private First Class Downing was killed in March 1945 in one of the final engagements of World War II.”