On the recordMay 2, 2011
This weekend I spoke with Specialist Micheal Phillips' mom. She reminded me that Micheal was the first student in 10 years to sign up for the Army from Ardmore High School. He was recognized as the Distinguished Member of the Regiment because of his capacity to keep up morale among his peers. I would like to leave the House with two quotes from Specialist Phillips. The first comes from a letter that Specialist Phillips sent to the assistant principal at Ardmore High School. Phillips wrote, ``I am doing this for my family, for you, for everyone, for America, to protect it from the bad guys.'' The second, as recalled by his mother: ``He said terrorism was like a virus. It had to be stopped. It had to be contained.'' Mr. Speaker, in light of yesterday's events in Pakistan with the death of Osama bin Laden, these words, both spoken and written by Specialist Phillips, couldn't be more timing or fitting. This young man's passion was to protect this country from the bad guys, the terrorists who then and now want to do us harm. Specialist Phillips ended up making the ultimate sacrifice, combating terrorism, protecting the country that he loved. For that, Mr. Speaker, I am eternally grateful and so is his Nation.…





