Tommy Tuberville Honors Fallen Alabamian Soldiers Ahead Of Memorial Day

Forbes Breaking News

During remarks on the Senate floor Tuesday, Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) honored two fallen soldiers from Alabama ahead of Memorial Day.

Transcript

00:00Mr. President, the first stanza of the National Anthem ends with, quote,

00:07O say does that Star-Spangled Banner yet wave, or the land of the free and the home of the brave.

00:15We sing this part as a declaration, but if you read the lyrics of the Star-Spangled Banner,

00:22the sentence actually ends with a question mark.

00:26Francis Scott Key intended this line to be sung as a question rather than a statement.

00:35That's fitting because while our freedom may seem concrete, it's never a guarantee.

00:43Our freedoms depend on brave men and women who are willing to answer the call to defend our great country.

00:51Over the years, our National Anthem took on a feeling of confidence and assurance rather than uncertainty.

01:00That's thanks to the millions of men and women who have answered the call to serve,

01:07some of whom made the ultimate sacrifice.

01:13Next week, we recognize Memorial Day.

01:16It's not just another long weekend, but it's time to honor our fallen soldiers and reflect on their sacrifices.

01:26Today, I'd like to recognize two such heroes from my state of Alabama, Michael Hosey and Jason Barfield and their families.

01:39For U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Michael Wesley Hosey, there was never a question in anyone's mind

01:49as to what he wanted to know as to what he wanted to do when he grew up.

01:54Every career day, he would always dress up as a soldier.

02:01Michael loved reading about history and he loved our country.

02:05So much so that his friends and family gave him the nickname American with an M.

02:12That's American without an A.

02:16Because Michael was only 17 when he graduated from Clay Chalkville High School,

02:22his dad, also named Michael, had to sign his permission for him to list in the Army.

02:30As a Vietnam veteran, the elder Michael knew all too well what his son was signing up for.

02:36Yet the Hosey family supported Michael's decision to serve his country.

02:45There is no question that this courageous young man also came from a courageous family.

02:51Michael graduated from boot camp three days after 9-11.

02:58He had a gift for learning languages quickly and planned to use this talent

03:02to become a communications intelligence specialist.

03:06This ability to quickly pick up on a new language combined with his outgoing personality

03:14made Michael a favorite with the local Afghans.

03:19Members of Michael's unit recalled him quickly receiving a dinner invitation

03:23from one of the local families shortly after moving into the area.

03:29Michael had a giving heart and continued to earn the trust of the locals, especially all the kids.

03:39His sister, Lori, recalls him always asking his family to send candy when they sent him a package.

03:47At first, she found this odd because Michael wasn't a big candy eater,

03:54but they'd always send Skittles or gum.

03:57She later realized Michael wasn't asking for candy himself, but to share with all the kids in the country.

04:05Sadly, Michael lost his life on September the 17th, 2011,

04:11during Operation Enduring Freedom, one week before his 28th birthday.

04:18When sharing his story, Lori wants us to remember that freedom is not free.

04:25It's a reality that her and Michael's parents, Condi and the older Michael,

04:32still carry with him every single day.

04:34For Marine Lance Corporal, Jason Barfield of Ashford, Alabama,

04:45he also was born with a strong desire to serve his country.

04:52His father, Ray, is a disabled Army veteran.

04:57And Jason's grandfather, also named Jason, was killed in World War II.

05:02Jason lived his life with the goal of making a difference.

05:08His mom, Kelly, says that Jason believed that there was good in everyone.

05:14Even if you couldn't find it at first, that just meant just to dig a little bit deeper.

05:20Jason lived by the motto that, quote, every day is a good day.

05:25He also had a gift for music and was in the band at Ashford, Alabama, High School.

05:31He enjoyed singing in church, playing the saxophone, and was teaching himself to play the piano.

05:39Jason's hard work and talents earned him a four-year band scholarship to Huntington College.

05:46But he chose to forego the scholarship to enlist in the Marines because he wanted to be part of the best.

05:54Kelly remembers asking Jason's recruiter about the dangers that he was signing up for.

06:00And the sinking feeling when the recruiter replied,

06:06No, ma'am, I can't guarantee that he'll come home.

06:11Jason surprised his family for Christmas in 2010

06:15and spoke about his new goal to re-enlist in the military and become a chaplain.

06:22The Barfields didn't know this would be their last holiday that they would spend together.

06:27Jason was killed in action on October the 24th, 2011, at the young age of 22.

06:36Since sensing the danger that was ahead of Jason,

06:41he pushed eight of his fellow Marines, a native translator, and a canine

06:47out of the way from the booby trap explosion that would claim his own life.

06:53Jason's platoon sergeant, Gunny Thrash, said, quote,

06:57His name and his actions for his fellow Marines will outlive all of us.

07:04Jason was a hero.

07:06He makes all Alabamians proud.

07:08Michael Wesley Hosey and Jason Barfield are two young men who never got to start a family

07:16or fully pursue their dreams.

07:20We are ever, forever grateful and indebted to them for their sacrifice.

07:26It gives us the assurance to continue to sing the national anthem,

07:30not with a question mark, but with a declaration that we are the land of the free

07:36and the home of the brave.

07:39I'm reminded of the words in John 15, 13.

07:43Greater love has no one than this,

07:47than to lay down one's life for his friends.

07:50We may never have met Michael or Jason,

07:54yet they courageously were giving and willing to give their lives for their fellow Americans.

08:02We will continue to share their stories to ensure their sacrifices are never, ever forgotten.

08:10As Memorial Day approaches,

08:11I hope we take time to honor Americans that have fallen,

08:19along with the brave families who have been left behind.

08:25May we never forget that freedom is free.

08:33I yield the floor, Mr. President.

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