[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 149 (Thursday, November 10, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S12684]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. REED (for himself and Mr. Chafee):
  S. 1989. A bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 57 Rolfe Square in Cranston, Rhode Island, shall be 
known and designated as the ``Holly A. Charette Post Office''; to the 
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
  Mr. REED. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to one of Rhode 
Island's brave soldiers, Lance Corporal Holly A. Charette, who was 
killed in Iraq on June 23, 2005. In honor of her sacrifice, I am 
introducing a bill, along with Senator Chafee, to name the post office 
at 57 Rolfe Square in Cranston, RI, the ``Holly A. Charette Post 
Office.''
  Twenty-one year old Holly Charette died when a suicide bomber in 
Fallujah attacked the military convoy in which she was riding. This was 
the deadliest attack on women in the U.S. military since the start of 
operations in Iraq, and yet another example of the violence that 
continues to plague our soldiers serving in this conflict.
  Those who were close to Holly describe her as a happy and positive 
young woman loved by all those who knew her. She was a cheerleader at 
Cranston East High School, where she worked hard in college-prep 
courses. Her teachers remember her as a ``bright, shining star.''
  Holly had dreams of becoming a postal worker. Instead, in 2002, she 
made the choice to serve her Nation by joining the U.S. Marine Corps.
  She was deployed to Iraq in March of this year with her unit from 
Camp Lejeune, NC, and assigned to Headquarters Battalion, 2nd Marine 
Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force. It was here that Holly was 
able to combine her dreams of postal service with that of serving her 
Nation.
  During her service in Iraq, Holly utilized her strong organizational 
skills to take on and complete various administrative tasks, including 
that of mail delivery to the troops. She became known as the ``Marine 
who brought the good news.'' Holly never forgot a name, and would often 
stop Marines in the mess hall to let them know that they had mail.
  The day that Holly was killed, she was working with Iraqi security 
forces to prevent insurgents from gaining a foothold in that country.
  Her tragic passing has touched the lives of Rhode Islanders. Holly's 
presence will be deeply missed by all those who knew and loved her.
  This legislation will pay proper tribute to this remarkable young 
woman, and commemorate her valor for future generations. I ask my 
colleagues to join me in honoring Lance Corporal Holly A. Charette by 
supporting this bill.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of this legislation to name the 
post office in Cranston after Lance Corporal Charette be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 1989

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

     SECTION 1. HOLLY A. CHARETTE POST OFFICE.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 57 Rolfe Square in Cranston, Rhode Island, 
     shall be known and designated as the ``Holly A. Charette 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 ``Holly A. Charette Post Office''.
                                 ______