jonathan metzger, the unit's leader and christopher patterson, just 20 years old. >> i happened to looke front door, and i saw the uniform. and, of course, i instantly -- i knew what it was. >> reporter: thursday night, christopher's body was returned to chicago. the patterson's saluted their son's flag-draped coffin. >> when chris was little, his favorite halloween costume was a christian soldier. he was one of god's soldiers and one of america's. >> reporter: he grew up in a military family and joined the national guard while studying music at indiana's valparaiso university. where he proudly sang in the school's a cappella group. his parents worry men and women serving overseas are starting to slip out of america's consciousness. >> we lost four out of one unit i think is why it's gotten so much press. >> we are out of iraq, but we're still at war and most people don't know that. we've been there for nine years now, and it's picking up. it's -- it's not over by any stretch of the imagination. >> reporter: the patterson's youngest son, carl, got leave from the marines to join the rest

staff sergeant jonathan mess kerr, brian lineheart, and christopher patterson, and patterson's mothere felt a calling to serve. when they got news at that the unit was activated, he says i have to do it. i didn't sign up to just stay in school or get an education. i did this to help my country. >> alisyn: and this is the largest number of guardsmen's death since 2005. half the schools in texas are calling on the state to pay up. suing after the state made more than 5 billion dollars in cuts from school budgets last year, and they aren't alone. a wave of states are asking courts to order more spending of public education and sweeping the u.s. and suits are pending in california, florida and kansas and schools say they're facing new pressures after the cuts and whites are adding more rigorous standards to education. a california woman who shop lifted, says a brain tumor made her doing it, stealing $2500 worth of clothing back in october. at the time she says she was distracted by a cell phone call, but now says it was actually a benign tumor affecting her judgment and she says that tumo

. >> today i rise to honor the life of specialist christopher patterson. christopher a 2009 graduate of west aurora high school in illinois, came from a military family. he joined the national guard while studying music education at valparaiso university. he didn't join the guard just for money for school he joined to serve his country. his conviction to serve was so strong he chose to join his guard unit overseas when they were sent to afghanistan even though he could have stayed behind to continue his studies. three weeks ago, christopher and three other soldiers were working in the kandahar po vince of afghanistan to clear combat -- province of afghanistan to clear combat routes when an i.e.d. detonated and took his life. mr. hultgren: we honor christopher and the ultimate sacrifice he paid for our country and give our thoughts and prayers to his family and friends in this difficult time. we are and will remain eternally grateful for christopher's service and sacrifice. -- sacrifice to our country. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yie