Representative Merritt talks to Lions about Sept. 11

Texas State Representative Tommy Merritt spoke about sacrifice for this country. Kilgore Lions Club met on Thursday to remember those who lost their lives in the attack on this country on Sept. 11 seven years ago .

After a moment of silence, Lion Tom King introduced members of the Kilgore Police Department and Kilgore Fire Department who were on hand for the event.

State Representative Tommy Merritt said if was an honor for him to be in Kilgore to speak with the Lions, being born and raised in Kilgore himself.

Pride was an important part of Merritt's speech, pride in serving in the legislature under President — then governor — George W. Bush and also the friendship he shared with the President. "I knew President Bush when he was Governor of Texas," said Merritt.

"I am proud of the resolve President Bush has shown in defending our nation," said Merritt. "President Bush has come under great criticism about the war in Iraq, but he has not faltered in his decision to defend this nation against that attack on Sept. 11."

Merritt spoke of one soldier who made the greatest sacrifice for his country. John Stock, from Longview, lost his life in Iraq. "I had the privilege of honoring John when he was awarded Eagle Scout. I also had the honor of hand delivering a letter from Stock's family to President Bush," said Stock.

Merritt said the Stock family wanted to thank America for making John the best Marine he could be. "When I delivered the letter to President Bush in the Oval Office, it was that same day President Bush called the Stock family," said Merritt.

"We need to give the President our support and prayers during his last days in office as the President continues his resolve to protect this country from another attack like Sept. 11," said Merritt.

Merritt said as a representative of East Texas his concern is to keep East Texans working and to lower our dependency on foreign oil. "We have two million royalty owners right here in East Texas and an abundant supply of oil and gas without paying higher prices for imported oil," said Merritt. "But East Texans and those living right here in Kilgore have to speak up for themselves, we must have a plan to keep workers in the East Texas oil and gas fields."

"Boone Pickens, a friend of mine," said Merritt has plans to take advantage of wind energy and other fuel alternatives, "but Kilgore needs a plan to take care of men and women working right here, whose lives depend on the oil and gas from the East Texas fields. I passed a bill to do a study of the East Texas oil field, a study that has not been done in 60 years," said Merritt. "Gov. Rick Perry vetoed that bill because there is more money in importing oil."

President Bush hopes to have the border fence complete when he leaves office, "but I am doubtful that will happen." said Merritt. "We need border security, but at this time this country has spent $300 million to Boeing for a fence that doesn't work," said Merritt. "I understand these issues because I am the longest standing member of the Borders Affairs Committee."

"We need border security, but it is hard to tell small border towns that derive their income from thousands of people crossing the border each day, as in Laredo, that the government is going to arrest their family and friends and send them back to Mexico," said Merritt. "Yes we need border security. Is the answer more fence, more personnel? The answer to that is not yet clear. But when a raid was done on 30,000 insurgents in a small town in Iraq and fingerprints were taken, 3000 of those fingerprinted had arrest records in the United States."

"I want everyone to know that I have an open door policy," said Merritt. "At the end of my career I hope to go down in history as the representative that was always listening."