Roger Marshall: “I thank my colleague from California (Mr. McClintock) for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today humbled and a bit…”

“I thank my colleague from California (Mr. McClintock) for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today humbled and a bit emotional in support of the First Infantry Recognition of Sacrifice in Theater Act, also known as the FIRST Act. The FIRST Act modifies the First Infantry Division Monument to include and honor the names of 660 brave soldiers who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our country during Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation New Dawn, and Operation Enduring Freedom. The First Infantry Division Monument, located in President's Park, west of the White House, was first conceived by the Society of the 1st Infantry Division to commemorate the lives of soldiers killed serving our country during World War I. Over the years, a total of 12,949 names of fallen soldiers have been inscribed and commemorated on this monument, but it will now take an act of Congress to honor the sacrifices of those 660 recently fallen soldiers and give their families a hallowed place for remembrance. Throughout history, when the President had decided to send troops into harm's way to protect American lives and uphold American values, he has almost always called upon the 1st Infantry Division. Indeed the 1st Infantry Division, more commonly known as ``The Big Red One,'' has a heroic and storied past. Established in 1917, the Division celebrated their 102nd anniversary earlier this year, and since 1955, has called Fort Riley, Kansas, its home.…”