Kerry Bentivolio – For over 20 years, he proudly served with the Michigan Army National Guard where he worked tirelessly to protect and defend the United States of America. He served with the military police on the home front during Desert Storm and in Iraq in 2007, at age 56, with an Artillery Unit in an administrative capacity. Kerry was medically evacuated from Iraq after suffering a neck injury and retired. A true Patriot.
On December 12, 2014 Representative Kerry Bentivolio of Michigan asked permission to address the United States House of Representatives a last time after losing his bid for re-election in 2014:
“Madam Speaker, over the last 2 years, I have had an opportunity that is rare. I was given the task of representing my community in the House of Representatives. During that time, it has been a privilege to see our democracy in action up close. It has been an honor to serve with all of you.
In this, my last message on the floor of Congress, I want to remind all of you that we are here to serve the people, not special interests. If I have made any impact on any of you, I hope it is this: the job of a Member of Congress is to protect our rights, not take them away.
I want to thank each and every Member of the House of Representatives for their support and their work. I would like to ask them to strive valiantly and dare greatly, and offer this last this small piece of advice: Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.”
Source: Congressional Record
Note: Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night” – First line, is a poem first published anonymously in 1823, and later attributed to Clement Clarke Moore, who acknowledged authorship in 1837 of the work: “A Visit from St. Nicholas“, also known as “The Night Before Christmas” and “ ’Twas the Night Before Christmas” .