Orrin Hatch: “September was a hard month for the people of Utah. Three more of our sons were called home into the arms of God. Each…”

“September was a hard month for the people of Utah. Three more of our sons were called home into the arms of God. Each was a Marine, each a Lance Corporal, each did not live to see their 23rd birthday. I hope that my colleagues will join me in saluting these brave men of honor, who died to defend this nation and to bring freedom to an oppressed people. Lance Corporal Michael Allred was a young man who knew he wanted to be in the military. His brother Brad said it best, that Lance Corporal Allred 'was happy to serve, and he knew what he was doing was right . . . he died doing something he loved.' Ironically, Lance Corporal Allred was killed in the same attack that also took the life of another one of Utah's sons, Lance Corporal Quinn A. Keith. His family asked that I write a few words that were shared at his funeral. While I was learning about his life, I will always remember what his uncle Clyde said about Lance Corporal Keith, 'He was scared to be there, but he knew he had to be there.' The third name to be added to this list of honor is Lance Corporal Cesar F. Machado-Olmos. His life is also extraordinary, since at the time of his death, he had not yet become an American citizen. Imagine, a young man who loved this country so much that before he even became a citizen he entered into a life of service and chose to earn the title of United States Marine. Our Nation is truly blessed, not because of our material wealth or our influence across the globe.…”