Dick Durbin: “I am in support of S. Con. Res. 112 which supports the goals and ideals of National Purple Heart Recognition Day. This…”

“I am in support of S. Con. Res. 112 which supports the goals and ideals of National Purple Heart Recognition Day. This award was created by General George Washington, who established the Honorary Badge of Distinction in the figure of a heart in purple cloth or silk on August 7, 1782. Since that time, more than 1,535,000 Americans have received Purple Hearts, and their numbers are growing daily as the war in Iraq continues to take its toll. Over 5,000 Americans have been wounded in Iraq, many of them suffering horrific injuries. One such American is SP Gabe Garriga, one of my constituents. Specialist Garriga volunteered for the Illinois National Guard right after September 11, when he was just 17 years old, because he felt obligated to go and make a difference. In the summer of 2003, his unit was deployed to Iraq. On July 14, 2003, Specialist Garriga was rushing to help defend a checkpoint in Baghdad. The checkpoint had been breached by an Iraqi car that sped through without stopping, and U.S. soldiers feared that this was yet another suicide bomber. In the rush to defend the checkpoint, Garriga's Humvee slammed into another Humvee and he was thrown from his gun turret directly into burning fuel canisters. The wounds this young man suffered were absolutely horrendous. He had second and third degree burns over almost half his body and severe abdominal injuries. Doctors gave him a 1 percent chance for survival, but he beat those daunting odds.”