Jeff Fortenberry: “On Tuesday morning, under the beautiful prairie sky, U.S. Army Specialist Blaine Edward Redding was laid to rest in an…”

“On Tuesday morning, under the beautiful prairie sky, U.S. Army Specialist Blaine Edward Redding was laid to rest in an old and serene Plattsmouth, Nebraska, cemetery. Specialist Redding was a 22-year-old newlywed, married just 10 weeks to Nikki before a roadside bomb took his life in Afghanistan on June 7. He died along with four other soldiers, two of whom were his close friends. Blaine Redding followed a family tradition of service to our Nation, in the footsteps of his father and grandfather. Heeding the call to duty was also important to Blaine's younger brother, Private Logan Redding, who was also serving in Afghanistan in the 101st Airborne, just 15 miles away. Upon learning of his brother's death, Private Redding dutifully escorted Blaine's flag-dragged coffin back to Dover Air Force Base to meet their parents, Teresa and Pete, as well as Nikki. Mr. Speaker, at the funeral, dozens of Patriot Guard Riders; children with their mothers, hands over their hearts; saluting veterans; local officials; and hundreds of citizens lined the streets reverently bearing American flags to honor Specialist Redding's sacrifice.”