Lance Cpl. Ryan A. Miller
United States Marine Corps 10/09/86-09/14/06 Pearland, TX Ryan Adam Miller from Pearland, Texas, and 19 years of age, was a third generation marine. His grandfather was a marine in the great World War II. His father Frank was a marine in Vietnam. Ryan was so committed to a future defending others, he graduated from high school early just so he could enlist into the United States Marine Corps. While Ryan loved the Corps, his dream didn't end with service to his country. He has another wish, another sacrifice he wanted to make. He wanted to finish his military career in the Marine Corps and join another force, the very same police force both his mother and father gave decades of their lives to. Both Ryan's parents served for years in the Houston Police Department. I know both of them because of my experience as a prosecutor and as a judge. At the last Houston Police Department cadet graduation this summer, I spoke to Ryan's mother Jeannie, who told me her son was coming back to Houston after he finished his tour of duty in Iraq to be a Houston police officer. This dream was almost a reality. Sadly, he was just days away from returning home when, on September 14, this young marine was killed on patrol by an IED during combat operations against enemy forces in Al Anbar Province, Iraq. Ryan Miller was a fine marine. He was a fine human being. His death was not a loss, because he gave his life over there for all of us over here. We honor Ryan, we honor the parents of this marine and their sacrifices. I also pause today to remember the marines who served with Ryan, and all those who volunteered to defend and protect this great country. They are the fabric of this great Nation. While the blood of their fellow comrades is the red color in the stripes of Old Glory, these few, these proud, these marines, keep us free to see the stars, stars of liberty, freedom and justice. God bless these sons of America.