Political Quotes

“Since the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan began nearly 9 years ago, 72 service members with New Mexico ties have lost their lives while defending our Nation and the freedoms we hold dear. Seventy-two. They were brothers and fathers and husbands and sons and friends. Each was irreplaceable to his family. Each had a different story. Today, I rise to tell the story of one of those men. U.S. Army PVT Charles High was 21 years old, a son of the city of Albuquerque who attended Eldorado High School. Known as 'Charlie' to his friends, he played the viola in his high school orchestra. He ran track. And he taught himself how to play guitar. Charlie's dad says he always knew that his son would join the military. He signed up for Junior ROTC when he was 14, and his dad said he was hooked. He went on to join the Army in June of 2007 and was stationed at Fort Campbell in Kentucky as part of the elite 101st Airborne Division. His tour in Afghanistan was his second overseas. He served his first tour in 2008 in Iraq. Charlie was killed last month when an IED detonated near his vehicle, which was patrolling in Afghanistan's Kunar Province. He leaves behind his dad Charles, his mom Kimberlea Johnson of Illinois, his fiancee Maggie Jo Simmonds, four siblings, his grandparents and great-grandmother, and dozens of other family members and friends.”