U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi eulogized Rep. John Murtha at his Pennsylvania funeral as a friend to men and women in the military, heading up a large congressional delegation that the speaker said had been planning earlier this month to celebrate his tenure in Congress.U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi eulogized Rep. John Murtha at his Pennsylvania funeral as a friend to men and women in the military, heading up a large congressional delegation that the speaker said had been planning earlier this month to celebrate his tenure in Congress.
"On Saturday February 6th, (Murtha) became the longest-serving member of Congress from Pennsylvania ever to serve.They were planning a celebration. Today, they presented him to us for celebration of his life," she said.
Murtha was chairman of the House appropriations defense subcommittee.
Pelosi spoke at Tuesday's service and says Murtha's vocal opposition to the Iraq war in 2005 taught people "to make a difference between the war and the warrior."
Murtha died Feb. 8 at age 77 after an infection developed in his small intestine following gallbladder surgery. He was the first Vietnam War vet to join Congress after taking control of the seat in Pennsylvania's 12th District in 1974.