Honoring Ryan Jerabek

HONORING RYAN JERABEK -- (Extensions of Remarks - October 11, 2004)

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, every now and then, I hear someone say that America lacks heroes-those great men and women amongst us who we can use to inspire and teach our young people. In my view, the problem is that too many people look to the playing fields or the big screen for their heroes. But all of us here today know better-because we are here to remember and honor one of our real heroes; an American who we are rightly very proud of, and whom we miss very much, Ryan Jerabek.

Now, we all know that our work in Iraq is far from over. There are many challenges ahead and, sadly, there will likely be some more dark days ahead as well. But we also know there will be brighter days ahead too, more and more of them, as freedom's sunlight chases away the shadows of tyranny. That's what Ryan helped to do-bring sunlight to the shadows.

What our servicemen and women are accomplishing is extraordinary-by any measure and compared to any mission in modern history. Sadly, their courage can be measured by the casualties-Ryan, Jesse Thiry of Casco, Warren Hansen of Clintonville, Stephen Martin of Rhinelander, Nichole Frye of Lena and others.

But on this day, let's also measure their courage by how they've changed Iraq. Just a year and a half after chasing Saddam from power, Iraq is on the path to full sovereignty and moving toward free elections. When our soldiers first reached Iraq, they found chaos and they found evil. As USAID has reported, Iraq has 270 mass graves holding perhaps 400,000 bodies-people tortured for their beliefs, and killed for their ethnicity.

Ryan and others fought, and rebuilt, and protected, and liberated-and the results have been historic. They've helped rebuild 240 hospitals, 1,200 clinics, 2,300 schools. They've distributed 1.5 million student school kits and 9 million textbooks. They've immunized over 5 million Iraqi children. They've established 16 governing councils, over 90 district councils and nearly 200 community councils.

In short, Ryan was doing a good thing-no, he was doing a great thing. And the ceremony honoring Ryan this weekend in Wisconsin is just one small sign that all of us recognize it.

Ryan used to say that he wanted to be a teacher-he wanted to teach others and shape lives. Well, he did. His life, his work, his sacrifice have taught us all so very much. We will never, ever forget him. We are in awe of his service and all that he accomplished in his tragically short life.

Ryan, you are our hero-a real hero.