[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 137 (Tuesday, October 25, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H9062-H9063]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 GAGETOWN VETERANS MEMORIAL POST OFFICE

  Mrs. SCHMIDT. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 3368) to designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 6483 Lincoln Street in Gagetown, Michigan, as the 
``Gagetown Veterans Memorial Post Office''.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 3368

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. GAGETOWN VETERANS MEMORIAL POST OFFICE.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 6483 Lincoln Street in Gagetown, Michigan, 
     shall be known and designated as the ``Gagetown Veterans 
     Memorial Post Office''.
       (b) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation, 
     document, paper, or other record of the United States to the 
     facility referred to in subsection (a) shall be deemed to be 
     a reference to the ``Gagetown Veterans Memorial Post 
     Office''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Ohio (Mrs. Schmidt) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Ohio (Mrs. Schmidt).


                             General Leave

  Mrs. SCHMIDT. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Ohio?
  There was no objection.
  Mrs. SCHMIDT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3368, introduced by the 
distinguished gentlemen from Michigan (Mr. Kildee). This bill would 
designate the post office in Gagetown, Michigan, as the Gagetown 
Veterans Memorial Post Office.
  The entire Michigan delegation has cosponsored this legislation. 
Although the town of Gagetown, Michigan, is a small community of only 
337 people, the 38 veterans that reside there have made a big 
contribution to the American way of life. Every member of our armed 
services has contributed to the preservation of the goals and ideals of 
this country.

[[Page H9063]]

  Those who have served and are currently serving our country are 
fighting for the basic rights that we enjoy here in our free Nation, 
here in this very room. From the American Revolution to the current war 
on terrorism, there are numerous untold stories of bravery and courage, 
and so many unsung heroes that live among us.
  The 38 veterans of Gagetown, Michigan, have been involved in World 
War II, Korea, Vietnam and Iraq. The designation of this post office 
building would be a token of the town's gratitude and respect for those 
who have answered the call to serve their country.
  What these veterans have done for all of us here in America enjoying 
the freedoms that these soldiers have provided is truly immeasurable, 
which is why it is only right to honor these courageous soldiers.
  I urge all Members to come together and honor the efforts of the 
dedicated veterans in Gagetown, Michigan.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may 
consume to the author of this legislation, the gentleman from Michigan 
(Mr. Kildee).
  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, H.R. 3368, to 
designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 
6483 Lincoln Street in Gagetown, Michigan, as the Gagetown Veterans 
Memorial Post Office.
  It is an honor to recognize all of our Nation's veterans in this 
visible manner. Mr. Pablo Lopez brought this idea to my attention, and 
the village of Gagetown overwhelmingly passed a resolution in support 
of designating the post office to honor our veterans. I am also pleased 
that the entire Michigan delegation has joined me as cosponsors of this 
legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I believe we owe all of our veterans a debt of gratitude 
for their service. In my years of public service, there are few people 
I have met who deserve the word ``heroic'' as do those who have served 
in our Armed Forces. We can honor that heroism here today to show the 
respect and gratitude due to those who have served in all of our 
forces.
  Mr. Speaker, when I was a schoolteacher in Flint, Michigan, I took a 
year off to travel around the world. I traveled through many countries 
and saw many wonderful sights and met many wonderful people, but the 
one sight that always gave me a feeling of security, integrity and 
decency was the American flag as I approached an American Embassy. That 
flag still flies proudly, because of the sacrifices made by our 
veterans.
  Today we are a Nation whose freedom has been guaranteed by our 
veterans, all of our veterans, and each deserves our pledge of justice, 
equity and care. Throughout my years in public office, I have always 
supported veterans programs because I know that each vote on veterans 
issues directly touches the lives of nearly one out of three Americans, 
the veteran themselves, and the fathers, the mothers, the sons, the 
daughters, the brothers and sisters whose sacrifice deserve our undying 
gratitude.
  My heart guides my hand on each vote I cast for veterans. Those votes 
are a demonstration of gratitude and a pledge of support. All of us 
need to honor the memory of those who paid so dearly with their lives. 
We need to think of the pain and loss felt by those left behind.
  Theodore Roosevelt wrote the following upon the death of his son 
Quentin during World War I. He wrote, ``He had his crowded hour, he 
died at the crest of his life, in the glory of the dawn.''
  Mr. Speaker, millions of Americans died at the crest of their lives 
because they believed in the absolute of America's promise. We can 
properly honor the memory of our fallen by assuring our Nation lives up 
to its obligation to its veterans.
  If I could request my Government to do one thing, if I could ask my 
fellow citizens to do one thing, it would be to grant our veterans the 
care, respect and recognition that they so richly deserve.
  Mr. Speaker, Members of the House, please join me in supporting H.R. 
3368, to honor all of our veterans.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  As a member of the Committee on Government Reform, I am pleased to 
join with my colleagues in consideration of H.R. 3368, the legislation 
naming a postal facility in honor of Gagetown veterans. This measure, 
which was sponsored by the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Kildee), was 
introduced on July 20, 2005, and unanimously reported by our committee 
on October 20, 2005.
  Mr. Speaker, veterans from the Gagetown community have fought 
valiantly in all conflicts. Veterans from the village of Gagetown have 
fought in World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War and, most 
recently, in Iraq.
  I am pleased to note that the village council of Gagetown, Michigan, 
fully supports naming the Gagetown Post Office in honor and memory of 
Gagetown veterans.
  Mr. Speaker, I commend my colleague for seeking to honor the 
sacrifice of Gagetown veterans in this manner. And on behalf of my 
colleagues, let me say that we all sincerely appreciate your heroic 
service to the Nation.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge swift passage of this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Mrs. SCHMIDT. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support the passage 
of H.R. 3368.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from Ohio (Mrs. Schmidt) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 3368.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________