IN HONOR OF LANCE CORPORAL JOSE GUTIERREZ

March 27, 2003

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of Marine Corps Lance Corporal Jose Gutierrez, who was one of the first Americans to give his life in battle during Operation Iraqi Freedom. I ask my colleagues to join me in commemorating the heroism of this young man.

Corporal Gutierrez was a symbol of America's promise. Born in Guatemala, Jose lost his parents at a young age and spent years on the streets in his home country. He came to the United States seeking a better life, and after moving around a bit, found a home with foster parents in Lomita, California, a small town in my congressional district.

Jose attended local schools--North High School in Torrance and Harbor College in Wilmington--playing soccer and hoping one day to study architecture. His foster brother told local newspapers that ``he joined the Marines to pay back a little of what he'd gotten from the U.S.''

Mr. Speaker, it makes me proud to learn about the passionate feelings this young man had for his adopted country. Undoubtedly, they are feelings shared by hundreds or perhaps thousands of the other young men and women who volunteered for military service and are now participating in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

I am proud too of the citizens of Lomita, who immediately began to organize tributes to Corporal Gutierrez, including plans to add his name to the memorial to fallen soldiers adjacent to the local post office, requesting that post office to fly its flag at half-mast, and launching a drive to fly 82 U.S. flags in honor of all of Lomita's fallen soldiers, sailors and airmen.

Corporal Gutierrez's ultimate sacrifice underscores for us how fragile and how precious are the freedoms we enjoy. He died to keep us free.

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