In Memory of Senator John McCain

Floor Speech

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Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart at the passing of a great American Hero and Leader, The Eagle of The Senate John McCain of Arizona. A selfless patriot, a man of courage, faith, and conviction. With his life well led, he is a lesson to our young. Our prayers go out to him and his family as he leaves this world. As the light in The United States Senate has diminished this day, with the loss of one its great leaders and friends. I include in the Record this poetic tribute to him penned by Albert Carey Caswell.

With the Faith of His Fathers

(By Albert Carey Caswell)

And when we were young Were we those among, Who were blessed with such a love song? With the Faith of Our Fathers in hearts which belongs Which are of our greatest of gifts So in all of this To help us grow strong To help us grow tall To get up when we fall To hold honor above all To give us the moral compass to form To help us move on To have The Faith of Our Fathers for which we all long To learn how to lead To go with Godspeed To in yourself believe And know right from wrong While, in service to Country to answer that call To nourish souls all With the Faith of Our Fathers in hearts so very warm Is our great gift to our children and theirs to pass on Is The Faith of Our Fathers so very strong, To help lead a great life long after we're gone That in hearts that lives on And John, The Faith of Your Mother was just as strong All in the examples you've set All in the challenges you've met All in what your caring reflects As you've left to this world with no regrets And John, armed With the Faith of Your Fathers look what standards you've set And what missions accomplished of which our world blessed And though you had medals of Bronze and Silver upon your chest Even greater was your heart of pure Gold To Be The Best As you John for The Greater Good yourself would neglect For Something Greater Than One's Self as you knew our Lord expects And John Heaven holds a place, for all those magnificent men like you in your grace Like that POW in that darkness all in what you faced In Strength In Honor, as you've lifted up our world to make it a better place And John the United States Senate will never forget your face As all in the sands of time John, yours is now etched And now we lay your fine body down to rest As upon the floor of the Senate what a giant shadow you've cast Leaving void, And a chasm as great as The Grand Canyon which will last At Ease my son, As one of America's Best, and a winner In the Game of Life who's won all those great quests Now rise, Rise up to Heaven with tears in your eyes, As the Eagle of The Senate has taken flight All in our Lord's arms, John, you now lie As our Lord looks into your eyes Saying, ``John in that POW camp I could not let you die'' ``As me and Bud and Orson watched over you day and night'' ``and I knew in this world you'd had so much more love to write'' ``and you would bless America and our world with all of your might'' ``As your battle on Earth is over my son'' ``But, your new battle has now just begun'' ``As an Angel in my Army of The Lord my son'' ``Now, up here in Heaven your Fathers so await'' ``With open arms, as over the years they've watched you so proudly at your heroic gait'' And on this night, we rest much easier in our beds Knowing a new Angel named John McCain watches us over head And your family will hear you on the wind And in the morning when they wake, they will feel you next to them as where you've been Watching over them time and again Until, one fine day you'll meet up in Heaven my friend And they won't have to cry no more And for a child to become whole To bring warmth and peace to their soul They need The Faith of Their Fathers to nurture and grow As a gift far more precious than gold When, armed with The Faith of Our Fathers And our Faith In The Lord Can there be nothing we can't overcome or endure And with tear in eye, John as to you we say goodbye At the Measure of This Great Man who has died Who was First in Freedom, Who was First in War, Who was First in Peace, And in the leadership he implored As you taught us how to live, and how to die Who is now an Angel in The Army of Our Lord, who Heaven depends on up on high Rise, And now we lay your body down to rest, Amen.

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