[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 21 (Monday, February 5, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H1156-H1158]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SERGEANT HENRY YBARRA III POST OFFICE BUILDING
Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill
(H.R. 577) to designate the facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 3903 South Congress Avenue in Austin, Texas, as the
``Sergeant Henry Ybarra III Post Office Building''.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 577
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SERGEANT HENRY YBARRA III POST OFFICE BUILDING.
(a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 3903 South Congress Avenue in Austin,
Texas, shall be known and designated as the ``Sergeant Henry
Ybarra III 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 ``Sergeant Henry Ybarra III Post Office
Building''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Massachusetts (Mr. Lynch) and the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr.
Shays) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Massachusetts.
General Leave
Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Massachusetts?
There was no objection.
Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join with my colleagues in
the consideration of H.R. 577, legislation naming a postal facility in
Austin, Texas, after Staff Sergeant Henry Ybarra III.
On September 11, 2003, Sergeant Ybarra died in Iraq, performing
maintenance on a heavy expanded mobility tactical truck when a tire
exploded. He was serving in the Army's 6th Squadron, 6th Cavalry Unit
when he was killed at the young age of 32.
Born in Austin, Texas, Sergeant Ybarra grew up wanting to be just
like
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his father and serve in the military. At age 19 he enlisted in the Army
and fulfilled his dream.
Sergeant Ybarra served as a technical supply clerk, keeping track of
spare parts for the squadron, which was not an easy task since spare
parts are often scarce during times of conflict.
Sergeant Ybarra was known for his upbeat attitude, his contagious
smile, and strong devotion to the Catholic faith. He is survived by his
wife and three children.
Staff Sergeant Ybarra's service to our country should be remembered
and celebrated by this small tribute, and I urge swift passage of this
bill.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Sergeant Henry Ybarra was, I am told, a regular guy. On a typical
weekend, he could be found relaxing at home with his family, grilling
outside with friends or watching his favorite NFL team, the Dallas
Cowboys. At other times of the year he would tune into auto racing to
watch his favorite NASCAR driver, Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
Born and raised in Austin, Texas, Sergeant Ybarra was a proud family
man with everyday American values. At the age of 19, he enlisted in the
U.S. Army. His military career took him to Virginia, Kansas, Texas, and
on to Germany. It was in Germany, while assigned to Troop D, 6th
Squadron, 6th Cavalry that he fought in Operation Enduring Freedom and
Operation Iraqi Freedom.
His plans for the future were focused on his family and raising his
three children; but as was pointed out, it all ended abruptly on
September 11, 2003 in Balad, Iraq, when he was changing a tire on a
heavy expanded mobility tactical truck when a tire suddenly exploded
and killed him.
As his father back home in the U.S. was attending a memorial honoring
those who died on September 11, 2001, he regretfully received word that
his own son, who had given so much of himself to his country, had been
killed.
Sergeant Ybarra was known by his friends, comrades and family for
having a joyful spirit and a constant smile. He liked to kid to make
others laugh. A proud father, son, husband and soldier maintained a
positive attitude and never said, I am told, a harmful word towards
others.
{time} 1415
He served his country with distinction. Among his awards and
decorations were: the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement
Medal, three Good Conduct Medals, two National Defense Service Medals,
the Armed Forces Service Medal, the NCO Professional Development
Ribbon, three Overseas Service Ribbons and the Basic Marks
qualification badge.
Mr. Speaker, this was a man who was happy to serve his country, and
we are grateful he did. Let us honor his ultimate sacrifice by renaming
this post office for him.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr.
Doggett) as much time as he may consume.
Mr. DOGGETT. I thank my colleagues for bringing this bill to the
floor.
Mr. Speaker, today we honor a son of Texas, Sergeant Henry Ybarra
III, born and raised in south Austin, and a member of the parish at San
Jose Catholic Church. On September 11, 2003, he was killed in Iraq, the
first of a number from our State capital in Texas to lose their life
there.
I attended his rosary personally, joined by Marine Thomas Cruz, a
member of my Congressional staff at that time. Today we honor Henry's
sacrifice to our Nation by officially affixing his name to the post
office on South Congress in Austin, the road that leads up to our State
Capitol.
Henry long knew that he wanted to devote his life to service. His
mother, Mary Jane, remembers it as early as age five. His father, a
veteran of Vietnam, would find young Henry marching around in his dad's
boots and cap. Henry wasted no time making that dream a reality,
enlisting in the Army only months after graduating from Johnston High
School. That father, Hank, is at this very moment still convalescing
from both his own service in Vietnam and the impact of the loss of his
son. We wish him continued progress in his recovery, and express our
deep gratitude for what he has given personally to our country.
Henry's military career spanned a dozen years, earning numerous
honors and awards. He met his wife, Lilian, while stationed at Fort
Hood in Killeen, and his career took his family with daughters, Alyssa
and Gabrielle, and his son, Henry IV, as far away as Germany. His
commanding officer described Henry's easy manner and said, I wish I had
a troop full of soldiers with his attitude and outlook on life.
As Pericles once spoke of ancient Athens, so it is with our democracy
today: ``If it should appear great to you, consider then that her
glories were purchased by valiant men, and by men who learned their
duty.''
With this bill, our Nation pays tribute to a valiant man, Staff
Sergeant Henry Ybarra, and to all those valiant men and women who serve
and have served under our flag. The veterans groups Tejanos in Action,
the Catholic War Veterans Post 1805, the Knights of Columbus Council
10148, the American GI Forum, along with LULAC and other community
organizations, have been strong supporters of the effort to memorialize
Sergeant Ybarra by naming the South Congress station in his honor.
Tejanos in Action is a unique organization that addresses the needs
of our Hispanic veterans, and by providing its services to our
community, provides a meaningful tribute to Henry and others who have
served our country. I salute Dan Arellano, the Commander of Tejanos in
Action; Moses Saldana, who works closely with the Knights of Columbus
at San Jose Church, and the Catholic War Veterans and all those who
continue to serve and inspire our youth with their service.
Last year, I participated in the dedication of the Nicholas Perez
Elementary School, as the Austin Independent School District recognized
another brave son of south Austin lost in Iraq. Such memorials rightly
honor men and women who have given their lives in service. They are
daily reminders of both the valor of these young people and of our need
to prevent war or its unnecessary escalation. With the death toll now
rising towards 4,000 unique human beings tragically lost in Iraq, there
may not be enough physical memorials to honor individually the
sacrifice of all those who continue to fall.
For Sergeant Henry Ybarra and his friends and family, he will always
be in their hearts. With this memorial naming, new generations will
learn of Sergeant Ybarra's selfless sacrifice and be inspired by that
service.
Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I want to associate myself with the eloquent
remarks of the gentleman from Texas.
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to a
great American and war hero of our country by naming the Post Office at
3903 South Congress Avenue in Austin, Texas in his honor. Born and
raised in South Austin, Army SGT Henry Ybarra III was the first soldier
from the capitol of my home state--Austin, Texas--to be killed in Iraq.
Sergeant Ybarra graduated from Johnson High School and attended San
Jose Catholic Church. He is survived by his wife, Lilian, and their
three children, Alyssa, 16, Gabreielle, 14, and Henry Ybarra IV, 4.
Army SGT Henry Ybarra III died when he was just 32 years of age on
September 11, 2003 in Balad, Iraq. Ironically it was when his father
was observing a moment of silence for the September 11th victims that
he received a phone call with the grave news that his own son was dead.
Readiness, quick thinking, leadership and dedication are some of the
traits that America's leaders possess today and traits that Sergeant
Ybarra displayed the day that he was killed. Army SGT Henry Ybarra III
died under combat conditions when the tire on a 10-ton military cargo
truck exploded as he tried to change it. Dedication and excellent
service to his country was not new to Army SGT Henry Ybarra and during
his military career he earned the Army Achievement Medal, Good Conduct
Medal, National Defense Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, National
Defense Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon, Overseas Service
Ribbon and Basic Marksmanship Badge.
As Americans will never forget the attack on our Nation on September
11, 2001, so we must never forget those who are fighting the war in
Iraq and serving our country. Sergeant Ybarra's memory must live on. He
is an example of the thousands of dedicated soldiers who have
selflessly given their lives to protect the
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freedoms of America and aid those in need. By honoring him, we honor
the soldiers before him and the soldiers that are currently deployed in
Iraq. Too many times we hear about the ugliness this war brings and as
the death toll rises and we continue to stay in Iraq, we must not
forget the names and faces of the fallen. I thank Rep. Doggett and urge
my colleagues to join me in support of H.R. 577, to designate the
facility of the United States Postal Service located at 3903 South
Congress Avenue in Austin, TX, as the ``Sergeant Henry Ybarra III Post
Office Building.'' We must put a face and a name to honor the fallen in
Iraq so that his memory will never be forgotten. Help me to honor one
of our Nation's finest and bravest by commemorating Sergeant Ybarra and
naming a post office in Austin, Texas after him.
Mr. LYNCH. 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 Massachusetts (Mr. Lynch) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 577.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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