[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 143 (Wednesday, October 20, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2145]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        A VERY SPECIAL MEMORIAL

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MARTIN FROST

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 20, 1999

  Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I recently had the opportunity to participate 
in an extraordinary event in my Congressional District. The Ex-Students 
Association of Blooming Grove High School in Blooming Grove, Texas, 
recently dedicated a World War II memorial listing the names of all 
area residents who had served in our armed forces in World War II.
  What made this event so extraordinary is that the memorial contains 
the names of 324 men and women, and two German Shepherds. These 324 men 
and women served in the military from a town of less than 1,000 in 
population. I can't imagine that any community of comparable size 
anywhere in America contributed as many of its sons and daughters to 
the war effort between 1941 and 1945.
  Of the 324 from this remarkable Navarro County community, a total of 
15 lost their lives. Additionally, a tremendously high number of the 
soldiers, sailors, and airmen from Blooming Grove were officers, with 
37 holding officer rank. One of these 37, Ray Morris, rose to the rank 
of Admiral.
  Two dogs, ``Snitch'' Lane and ``Jack'' Garrison were pressed into 
duty as sentries. Bruce Lane, one of the driving forces behind the 
creation of the memorial, was only eight years old when his German 
Shepherd, ``Snitch,'' was drafted by the Army. Bruce remembers how the 
dog's handler wrote letters home on a regular basis, letting him know 
that ``Snitch'' was OK.
  The memorial, which was dedicated on October 16th, consists of five 
pieces of Georgia gray granite inscribed with the names, rank, and 
branch of Blooming Grove residents who served during World War II.
  Members of the committee that raised money to construct the monument 
included Jean Hinkle, Alice Bell, Bob Lane, Bruce Lane, Jack McGraw, 
Ralph and Reba Ferrell, Shelby Thedford, Brad Butler, and Earl Smith. 
The committee overseeing construction included Bob Lane, Dana Stub, 
Loyd and Mary Gowd, and Helen Farrish. The beautification committee for 
the memorial included Terry Golden, Jean Hinkle, Bruce Lane, Elaine 
Campbell, and Alyne McCormick. They are all to be commended for their 
efforts in erecting this memorial.
  Every community that contributed to the war effort should have a 
memorial to those who served, but few towns are as deserving of a 
memorial as Blooming Grove. Communities like Blooming Grove won the war 
and helped save the world for democracy. It is highly appropriate that 
Blooming Grove residents' service has been recognized with a very 
special memorial.

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