Political Quotes

“Mr. President, I rise tonight to offer a few brief remarks. I am joined on the floor by my colleague Senator Toomey. We are both here tonight to read a list of names of those who gave, as President Lincoln said a long time ago, the last full measure of devotion to their country, Pennsylvanians who lost their lives in Operation Enduring Freedom. We know that since the beginning of the conflict, Pennsylvania now has lost to date--the latest number I have seen is 92 killed in action. Tonight we will read the names of five who gave that last full measure of devotion. Before I turn to my colleague, it is very hard for me to fully understand or appreciate what the loss of a loved one means when they lose their life in war. We often turn to quote Lincoln or the Scriptures. They are both appropriate. One of the best descriptions I heard was by the songwriter Bruce Springsteen. He was writing songs in the aftermath of 9/11. He had one song where the refrain was ``you're missing.'' Of course, it could apply to a family who lost someone in war. One of the lines in that song goes something like this: You are missing. When I turn out the light you're missing. When I close my eyes you're missing. And when I see the sunrise, you're missing. I can only turn to words such as that because I have never walked in those shoes, of being part of a family who lost someone in Iraq or Afghanistan or in any conflict.…”