Steve Buyer: “I have great respect for Mr. Murtha and Mr. Hunter. And I am uncomfortable when Mr. Murtha talks about one political…”

“I have great respect for Mr. Murtha and Mr. Hunter. And I am uncomfortable when Mr. Murtha talks about one political party rallying round something. I do not want Republicans or Democrats rallying around anything. You moved me when I was in my office and you talked about going to Arlington. All of us have been there; all of us have been to our Nation's cemeteries and seen the white crosses and Stars of David. The gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Brown) and I were privileged to represent our country this past May, and I am sure Mr. Murtha has been there, standing on the cliffs of Normandy at Omaha. We gave the Memorial Day address representing our Nation. I was there with my 20- year-old son, and I could feel the envy of souls because I thought about what their last thoughts may have been. And then as I strained among these thousands of graves, if I permitted the eyes of my mind to have a vision I could actually see, if I permitted the ears of my heart to listen, I could hear. And what did they say? They said, What we did on this day was worthy. You see, they came to a continent to free it from tyranny on that day. They came to a land where they had never been to fight for a people they had never met. Does that not yet sound familiar? And we speak of the sacrifice of what we refer to as the greatest generation. How are we now yet defining ourselves when our men and women are faced with something very similar.…”