Emanuel Cleaver: “I was unable to personally cast votes today because I was attending a memorial service for SFC Michael Fuga. Sergeant…”

“I was unable to personally cast votes today because I was attending a memorial service for SFC Michael Fuga. Sergeant Fuga was killed September 9, 2006 in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Sgt. Fuga was assigned to the Missouri National Guard's 35th Special Troops Battalion based in St. Joseph, MO. He and his family made Independence, in the district I am proud to serve, their home. Sgt. Fuga was 47 and had spent 28 years of his life in the Army. At the time of his death, he was training Afghan armed forces to help bring peace and stability to a nation that has known neither for decades. SGM James Schulte, who was in charge of Sergeant Fuga's deployment said, 'He was a true patriot and a great family man. I am truly honored to have known and served with him.' We should all be so lucky to have something like that be said of us when we are gone. Sergeant Fuga volunteered to extend his time in Afghanistan because, his family says, he was committed to defeating those who attacked our Nation 5 years ago this week. Each day we are blessed to live under the freedoms which Sergeant Fuga and his colleagues in the Armed Forces so bravely serve to protect and ensure. Sergeant Fuga leaves behind his wife and 12-year-old daughter. I do not take the decision to miss votes lightly, but hope I can provide Sergeant Fuga's family some comfort on what will be a difficult night.”