[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 8 (Tuesday, February 1, 2005)]
[House]
[Page H261]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING LANCE CORPORAL ADOLFO LOPEZ

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Price of Georgia). Under a previous 
order of the House, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Cuellar) is 
recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. CUELLAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of United 
States Marine Lance Corporal Adolfo Lopez.
  On Thursday, November 18, 2004, Lance Corporal Lopez, a member of 
Battery T Unit, 5th Battalion, 11th Marines, 1st Marine Division, died 
at the young age of 19.
  Mr. Lopez was killed in tragic rollover accident near Tucson, 
Arizona, while traveling home to Laredo, Texas, from a California 
military base.
  Mr. Lopez, also known as Buffy, was coming home to Laredo to spend 
the holidays with his family before being deployed to Iraq. Although he 
did not make it to the battlefield, Adolfo was proud to be called a 
Marine.
  Mr. Lopez, a 2003 graduate of J.B. Alexander High School, was 
described by his high school senior counselor as dedicated, disciplined 
and goal oriented. She said one of Adolfo's greatest moments was when 
he was informed that he had been accepted to the United States Marines.
  While in the United States Marines, Adolfo received the National 
Service Defense Medal. According to Jose Antonio Lopez, his brother's 
goal was to become a Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps.
  One of Adolfo's high school teachers, Mrs. Cecilia Santos, recalls 
letters and e-mail Adolfo sent her from boot camp in which he would 
mention how hard it was being away from his home, his family and his 
friends. Nevertheless, the growth in character he was experiencing was 
evident in his letters. Mrs. Santos noted in a letter that Buffy was 
fast becoming a man, a man of great moral fiber who was a role model to 
our youth.
  Mr. Speaker, on behalf of my constituents in Laredo, Texas, I ask 
this great body to join me in sending our most heartfelt condolences to 
the family of Lance Corporal Adolfo Lopez.
  May God watch over his parents, Daniel and Mercedes Lopez, and his 
brothers and sisters, Daniel, Jose, Herminia, Christian, David, 
Dennise, and Eddie Lopez.

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