On Floor of U.S. House, Spanberger Honors Life of Journalist, Hezbollah Hostage, & Orange County Resident Terry Anderson

**DOWNLOADABLE VIDEO: On U.S. House Floor, Spanberger Honors Associated Press Correspondent & Hezbollah Hostage Terry Anderson**

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Last week, U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger honored the life and legacy of Terry Anderson on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Terry Anderson was a U.S. Marine Corps Veteran and Associated Press correspondent who was taken hostage by Hezbollah in 1985. In 2015, Anderson retired to a horse farm in Unionville, Virginia. He passed away last month at the age of 76.

Click here to watch her remarks on the floor of the U.S. House, and a full transcript of her comments is below.

—

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the remarkable life and the legacy of a former constituent, Mr. Terry Anderson.

When I was first running for Congress, I had the occasion of meeting someone who was known to be a local advocate and a local activist, but the name was familiar to me — “Terry Anderson.”

I met with this gentleman, and I heard his story, and it was one that was familiar to me from my childhood — and one that is familiar probably to many of you.

In 1985, Mr. Anderson became quite well known the world over when he was kidnapped in Lebanon and held hostage by Hezbollah until his release in the very, very late days of 1991.

He was kidnapped when he was a reporter for the Associated Press. He was a correspondent who fearlessly pursued truth in some of the world’s most volatile regions and his commitment to on-the-ground eyewitness reporting was unwavering.

This continued the path he had begun, his inquisitive time in life through his service in the Marine Corps, where he rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant and he saw combat during the Vietnam War. It was time when he was in captivity in Lebanon that he brought back home a support for those who continue the mission of collecting knowledge, who continue the mission of reporting hard facts on the ground.

Mr. Anderson continued to advocate for press freedom worldwide throughout the remainder of his career once he returned back home to the United States.

He lived in many places — he even once ran for elected office in Ohio, he taught university level journalism, opened a few restaurants, a horse ranch, and a blues bar.

For a time, he lived on a farm in Orange County, Virginia which is when I had the opportunity to meet him and frankly, eat some of his extraordinary cooking. He was a man of many interests, he was a man of great passion, he was a man who loved and spoke often of his children, and he was a man who inspired me.

I’m grateful I had the opportunity to meet him and to learn from him. Upon his passing, I wish his family the very best.

Towards the end of his life, he once remarked, “I’ve lived so much and I’ve done so much. I’m content.”

His legacy has left an indelible mark on our world and his resilience and courage have set an example for so many of us. I ask my colleagues to please join me in remembering Terry Anderson.

I yield back.

—

###