Pete Domenici: “I rise to pay tribute to Army PFC Lori Piestewa from Tuba City, AZ. Private Piestewa was killed in action during…”

“I rise to pay tribute to Army PFC Lori Piestewa from Tuba City, AZ. Private Piestewa was killed in action during Operation Iraqi Freedom on March 23. As the first Native American female member of the U.S. Armed Forces to lose her life in combat, Lori's sacrifice is historic. It is also a source of tremendous inspiration for our country's Native American population, many of whom reside in New Mexico. I think most are now familiar with the story of the 507th Maintenance Company that was ambushed near An Nasiriyah. It was during this attack that Private Piestewa lost her life in defense of our country. The daughter of a Vietnam veteran, and the granddaughter of a World War II veteran, it is no wonder that she would volunteer to confront the threats facing our country. Obviously, patriotism runs deep in the Piestewa family, and it was surely this proud family history that inspired Lori to heed the call of duty. As I read some of the reports about Lori Piestewa's life, I noticed that as a youngster, she participated in a program called Futures for Children. This program, which I have been privileged to support over the years, is focused on empowering Native American high school students to be leaders and role models in their community. Clearly, Private Piestewa was the embodiment of what this program stands for-- both as a leader and as someone young people can pattern their lives after.”