[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 21 (Friday, February 17, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E197-E198]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            HONORING ARMY SPEC. SERGIO ANTONIO MERCEDES SAEZ

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 16, 2006

  Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Army Spec. Sergio 
Antonio Mercedes Saez, a 23 year old soldier who lost his life on 
Sunday, February 5th in Iraq. He leaves behind a grieving family and a 
legacy of service and sacrifice of which our community is proud.
  Mr. Mercedes, born in Puerto Rico, split his childhood between New 
York's Washington Heights and his parents' native Dominican Republic 
before enlisting in the military three years ago. He was serving his 
second tour of duty, assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry 
Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, when the 
vehicle that he was riding accidentally rolled over in a canal.
  Like so many of our young people, Mr. Mercedes was full of hopes and 
dreams, not only

[[Page E198]]

for himself, but also for his wife Jocelyn and his soon to be born son, 
which they had agreed to name Christopher Alejandro. He planned on 
bringing them both back to live in my district, where so many of his 
family still live and where he could take advantage of his G.I. 
benefits to get an education.
  Yet, he also knew that our freedom was not a gift but a right that 
had to be earned and secured through shared sacrifice. So although he 
had his whole life ahead of him, he did not hesitate to serve his 
country. He answered the call when asked to share the load of this war.
  I know that his family, both in Washington Heights and the Dominican 
Republic, are pained by his death. His loved ones, including his wife, 
his mother Carmen and his father Sergio Antonio, will never get to see 
the smile that so often lit up their lives.
  Yet they can be proud of the way he served his country. We can all 
celebrate the life he led, the example he showed and the legacy he left 
for his son and his community. And we can make sure that the gift that 
he and other soldiers have given to us is never forgotten.

                          ____________________