By Jennifer Bendery, GalleryWatch.com
Austin, TX –
Back for a week from Afghanistan where his Army National Guard unit has been deployed since last June, Rep. Rick Noriega (D-Houston) today thanked his fellow House members for their well wishes over the past several months and spoke of how serving in Operation Enduring Freedom has affected him.
A major in the Army Reserves, Noriega said being in Afghanistan "certainly helps put priorities in order" and shows "what's important in life." He said he visited his eldest son in College Station yesterday and as he drove down Highway 21 and Route 290. "For some reason, it never occurred to me how beautiful that drive is."
Noriega said he was thinking about Rep. Bob Griggs (R-North Richland Hills) recently because he is from House District 91, which reminds him of Psalm 91. The psalm is the Soldier's Song, he said, which "my father plays every day. And it works."
The Houston Democrat thanked legislators for supporting him "on the selection of my temporary replacement," his wife Melissa, while he is serving overseas. "It sure made me look smarter with the person that I selected," he said, noting he had been talking with House Speaker Tom Craddick (R-Midland) to "see if they can keep her in lieu of me. District 145 wouldn't suffer a bit."
Noriega said being in Afghanistan has been "a humbling privilege" and has allowed him to serve with men and women from Texas who are "sacrificing, every day, by being away from their families and children." He recalled his wife emailing him news from home about his dog being run over and his son breaking an arm, saying there have been some challenges trying to get health care for her when she was sick. "We have support systems," said Noriega. But it is still "challenging" for Texans serving overseas to "try to get health care for their families."
Ending on a less serious note, Noriega turned to his Democratic colleagues and added, "Let's go back to Oklahoma."