[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 124 (Thursday, September 28, 2006)]
[House]
[Pages H7745-H7746]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
LANCE CORPORAL ROBERT A. MARTINEZ POST OFFICE BUILDING
Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass
the bill (H.R. 5108) to designate the facility of the United States
Postal Service located at 1213 East Houston Street in Cleveland, Texas,
as the ``Lance Corporal Robert A. Martinez Post Office Building''.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 5108
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. LANCE CORPORAL ROBERT A. MARTINEZ POST OFFICE
BUILDING.
(a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 1213 East Houston Street in Cleveland,
Texas, shall be known and designated as the ``Lance Corporal
Robert A. Martinez Post Office Building''.
(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 ``Lance Corporal Robert A. Martinez Post
Office Building''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Georgia (Mr. Westmoreland) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Georgia.
General Leave
Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all
Members 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
gentleman from Georgia?
There was no objection.
Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, a native Texan, Robert Martinez, known as Robbie, was a
young Marine with the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine
Division. He was based at the Marine Corps Air Ground and Combat Center
in Twentynine Palms, California.
Lance Corporal Martinez was a dedicated soldier who wanted nothing
more than to serve his country and make a difference in the world. Upon
commencement of his senior year of high school, he had already signed
up for the
[[Page H7746]]
Marines. Two days after his high school graduation, in 2003, he left
for basic training.
Before his second deployment, Lance Corporal Martinez was stationed
for 7 months in Iraq on the border of Syria. It was late in his second
deployment to Iraq in the city of Fallujah when he and nine fellow
Marines were killed by an improvised explosive device. The date of this
attack was December 1, 2005; and, tragically, he was only weeks from
returning home to his family and friends.
In honor of this soldier's great courage and patriotism, which will
not be forgotten, I ask all Members to join me in supporting H.R. 5108.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
might consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5108, introduced by Representative Ted Poe,
designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at
1213 East Houston Street in Cleveland, Texas, as the Lance Corporal
Robert A. Martinez Post Office Building.
This measure was unanimously reported by the Government Reform
Committee on September 21, 2006.
A native of Texas, Robert Martinez was a young Marine serving his
second deployment to Iraq where he was killed by an improvised
explosive device on December 1, 2005, while conducting combat
operations in Fallujah, Iraq.
Mr. Speaker, here is another instance where a young person who had
completed one tour of duty, engaged in his second tour, gave the very
best and the most that one could possibly give, and that is his life,
for the benefit of creating, hopefully, a different and a better world.
I can think of no better way to remember him than to have people in his
community and in his hometown know of his diligence, of his exploits
and of his courage than to name a post office in his honor.
Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back
the balance of our time.
Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume
to my good friend and distinguished judge from the sovereign State of
Texas (Mr. Poe).
Mr. POE. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to speak on this
very important bill. I appreciate my friend from Georgia and friend
from Illinois for helping sponsor this bill.
Mr. Speaker, we name buildings and monuments and libraries and roads
after Presidents and generals, statesmen. But, today, I hope that we
name a post office after a young 20-year-old who wore the American
military uniform.
Mr. Speaker, the great General Douglas MacArthur during World War II
once commented, ``I have just returned from visiting the Marines at the
front, and there is not a finer organization in the world'' than the
Marine Corps.
Lance Corporal Robert ``Robbie'' Alexander Martinez was a member of
this fine fighting organization; and, as mentioned, he was killed in
December, 2005, while fighting and serving our Nation in Iraq. He
volunteered to join the Marines, and he volunteered to go to Iraq.
He was a member of the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, the 1st
Marine Division, based at the Marine Air Corps Ground and Combat
Center, Twentynine Palms, California.
Lance Corporal Martinez was 20 years of age when he died. He was on
his second tour of Iraq, and he had spent 7 months on the Syrian
border. He went to Iraq and Fallujah after 2004, and then he and nine
other Marines were killed last December when a roadside bomb exploded
next to them.
Lance Corporal Martinez was scheduled to come home to Texas within a
week of his death, but at the last minute his tour was extended for
over a month and a half.
Mr. Speaker, one out of 10 people wearing the United States military
uniform are from the State of Texas, and enlistments and volunteers
among those with Hispanic surname is extremely high.
Just before his death, Robert Martinez had called his mother and
asked her to buy him a diamond ring because he was going to propose to
his girlfriend, Taylor Wilkenson, as soon as he got back. He called her
his ``love at first sight.''
He went to a little, small high school, Cleveland High School in
Cleveland, Texas, and he graduated there in 2003. While in high school,
he was known as the peacemaker. By the time he started his senior year,
he had already signed up for the Marine Corps, but they would not take
him until he was old enough. His pre-enlistment at the age of 17 would
be activated as soon as he graduated from high school.
He was an outstanding baseball pitcher at Cleveland High School and
dreamed of getting a degree in education and being a high school
baseball coach, but he put all those dreams on hold so he could join
the United States Marine Corps. He went to basic training 2 days after
his high school graduation.
Lance Corporal Martinez's stepfather, Jeremy Hunt, called Robbie his
``diamond in the rough'' and one of the greatest things that ever came
into the life of his family. He loved being in the United States Marine
Corps, and he was proud telling folks he was just a Marine. He knew
there was a reason for resolving the situation in Iraq, and he looked
forward to coming back to Texas.
While overseas, he requested bags and bags of candy and care
packages, but this candy was not for him because he would split it up
and give it out to little kids in Iraq.
Robbie's mother, Kelly Hunt, said their 14-year-old son Mikie wanted
to be in the Marine Corps just like his brother Robbie.
President Ronald Reagan once said, ``Some people live an entire
lifetime and wonder if they have ever made a difference in the world,
but the Marines don't have that problem.'' Fine words from our former
President.
Lance Corporal Martinez was working to make a difference in the world
when he gave his life, and his bravery and dedication, his patriotism
will not ever be forgotten by his friends, certainly not by his family,
and all freedom-loving people throughout this world.
His Nation made the call, and he responded without hesitation, and he
served his country with honor and distinction. He wanted to be in the
Marines since he was 12 years of age.
So, Mr. Speaker, I ask for the adoption of this bill to name this
small post office in Cleveland, Texas, after one of the sons of
America.
Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, we have no other speakers, and I urge
all Members to support the passage of H.R. 5108. I yield back the
balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Westmoreland) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 5108.
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.
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