[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 121 (Monday, September 25, 2006)]
[House]
[Page H6986]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      HARRY J. PARRISH POST OFFICE

  Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules 
and pass the Senate bill (S. 2690) to designate the facility of the 
United States Postal Service located at 8801 Sudley Road in Manassas, 
Virginia, as the ``Harry J. Parrish Post Office''.
  (For text of S. 2690, see prior proceedings of the House of today.)
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Virginia (Mr. Tom Davis) and the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Van 
Hollen) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Virginia.
  Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I think I have been heard on 
this, but I did want to give Representative Wolf an opportunity to 
speak on this. As I stated earlier, Delegate Parrish, and it was Mayor 
before that, fighter pilot in World War II, was a friend of ours, but 
he was a friend of the greater community of Northern Virginia and the 
Commonwealth of Virginia.

                              {time}  1745

  Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of S. 2690, 
legislation to designate a United States Postal Service facility in 
Manassas, Virginia, as the Harry J. Parrish Post Office.
  I want to particularly thank the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Tom 
Davis) for his work to bring this legislation to the floor. I am 
pleased to be a sponsor of the House companion bill to the Senate 
measure introduced by Virginia Senator George Allen.
  Harry Parrish serve over 50 years in elected office. He was elected 
to the town council of Manassas, Virginia, in 1951, and held that 
position until 1963 when he was elected mayor. He served in that 
capacity until 1981.
  During his 12 years as town councilman and 18 years as mayor, he 
guided the transformation of Manassas from a small Virginia town to a 
thriving, lively suburb.
  Mr. Parrish became a delegate in the Virginia General Assembly in 
1982 and was elected to 13 terms in the Virginia House of Delegates, 
including serving as chairman of the Finance Committee starting in 
2000. At the time of his passing in March at the age of 84, he was the 
oldest serving member of the House of Delegates.
  As a member of the House of Delegates, he was known for conducting 
himself in a bipartisan manner, putting Virginia first. At Harry's 
funeral, current Governor Kaine was there, a Democrat; former Governor 
Warner, a Democrat. It was a bipartisan group. If only this body could 
become like that, whereby there could be a bipartisanship that we saw 
with Harry Parrish.
  I was proud to call Harry my friend. He was a true Virginia gentleman 
in the truest sense of the word.
  His public service started in the U.S. Air Force, where he was a 
decorated World War II pilot. As part of the British Royal Air Force 
during WWII, he flew C-47s over the Himalayas, delivering supplies, 
weapons and other cargo from India to China. He received the 
Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal for his valiant efforts. 
He served as an Air Force reservist in the Korean and Vietnam wars 
before retiring as colonel.
  He was chairman of the board of his family business, Manassas Ice and 
Fuel Company.
  Naming the post office on Sudley Road in Manassas in his honor and 
memory is an appropriate reminder to the people of Manassas of Harry's 
dedication to public service. I urge a unanimous vote for the 
legislation, and I thank the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Tom Davis) 
for allowing me to have this opportunity to be here at this time.
  Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of 
my time.
  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, I would commend Mr. Wolf for recognizing 
the service of Harry Parrish in this way. I assure him strong 
bipartisan support, and I have enjoyed working with him on both sides 
of the Potomac River on issues of importance to both jurisdictions.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Tom Davis) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the Senate bill, S. 2690.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the Senate bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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