Frank Lautenberg: “Today is a very sad day when we hear that we lost somewhere around 37 or 38 of our finest in the Marine Corps with the…”

“Today is a very sad day when we hear that we lost somewhere around 37 or 38 of our finest in the Marine Corps with the crash of a helicopter and additional deaths from the ground fight. Like everyone here, this information is very painful to me. I have had the experience, as most of my colleagues have, to visit with families as their sons and daughters are buried as a result of their exposure in Afghanistan and Iraq in the military. Most recently, about 2 weeks ago, I went to a funeral in New Jersey for a 19-year-old marine corporal. I sat with the family who was very proud of their son's contribution to his country. Twin brothers, young men were making comments at the funeral, participating in the eulogy, and the parents, grief stricken about the loss of this wonderful, apparently, young man. I did not know him, but the history of his short years was resplendent with good accomplishments in school. I mention that because it sets the tone for my feelings about how we portray this war to the American public.”