Political Quotes

“Mr. President, it is with a heavy heart that I rise today to pay tribute to the life and sacrifice of MSG Jared Van Aalst, a native of Laconia, NH. Jared was killed on August 4 while stationed in Kunduz Province, Afghanistan. He was serving on his sixth combat deployment as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. Jared exemplified the very best in our military's long tradition of selfless service on behalf of this great nation. Master Sergeant Van Aalst enlisted in the U.S. Army on August 17, 1995. After completing basic training, the signal systems specialist course and basic airborne school, he was assigned to the Headquarters Company. He later completed the Ranger indoctrination program and sniper school, and continued to rise through the ranks as a sniper team leader and squad leader. Master Sergeant Van Aalst was promoted to sniper platoon sergeant, platoon sergeant, and finally served as the noncommissioned officer in charge of Headquarters Company's 3rd Battalion Reconnaissance, Sniper and Technical Surveillance. He saw combat in both Operation Iraqi Freedom and in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. An exceptional marksman and soldier, in 2005 Master Sergeant Van Aalst defeated 147 of his brothers in arms to take first place at the service-rifle individual championship in the U.S. Army Small Arms Championships. He was later selected as a shooter and instructor for the U.S. Marksmanship Unit at Fort Benning.…”