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WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) spoke on the Senate floor today to honor Sergeant Patrick C. Hawkins, 25, who was among four members of the 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment killed on Oct. 6, 2013, in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Sergeant Hawkins’ family (wife) resides in Lansing, Kansas, and Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

Yesterday, Sen. Moran joined a bipartisan group of his colleagues in sending a letter to U.S. Department of Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel urging him to provide immediate death gratuity payments to military families during the government shutdown. This is a sacred obligation our nation holds dear and includes ensuring families’ presence to honor their loved ones at Dover Air Force Base.

Highlights from Sen. Moran’s remarks can be found below, along with links to video and audio downloads.

(0:17) “…Sergeant Patrick Hawkins, he was born on October 1, 1988. He graduated from high school and enlisted in the Army of his hometown of Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and Sergeant Patrick Hawkins, according to his battalion commander, was described as ‘a brave and incredibly talented ranger.’

(0:44) “…The description of his death revolved around the fact that he was… moving to aid another wounded ranger when he was killed. His actions, according to, again, his commander were in keeping with the epitome of the ranger creed, which is ‘I will never leave a fallen comrade.’

(1:40) “Sergeant Hawkins was awarded the bronze star, the meritorious service medal. He was awarded a Purple Heart — none of that replaces the loss of life. He is survived by his wife, who is a resident of Kansas, of Lansing, and her parents who are residents of my hometown of Hays, Kansas.

(2:06) “And so, Madam President today on behalf of my colleagues in the United States Senate I pay tribute to a soldier who in serving this country lost his life, who leaves behind grieving family members and friends, and who once again epitomizes what we all should know in service here in the United States Senate, what I spoke about earlier on the Senate Floor this week, which was if you need a reminder about how this place should work, look to our service men and women who for no partisan reason — no Republican or Democrat reason — volunteered to serve their country but concluded that had there were things that were much more important than life itself. And that being the ability to have a country that we know and enjoy as the United States of America, that has the freedoms and liberties guaranteed to us by our constitution, and creates the opportunity for every American to pursue what we all call the American Dream.

(3:07) “Today, Madam President, I pay tribute to one more hero, one more soldier, one more American who through service to others was willing to sacrifice his life for the betterment of his family back home and for the future of a country that we all love and call home — the United States of America.”

FTP LINK:  Click here to download his floor speech. (Save to your desktop.)

AUDIO LINK:  Click here to download audio of the remarks.

YOUTUBE:  Click here to watch his remarks on YouTube.

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