[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 111 (Tuesday, July 8, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H6197-H6198]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               SERGEANT PAUL SAYLOR POST OFFICE BUILDING

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the bill (H.R. 6092) to designate the facility of the United 
States Postal Service located at 101 Tallapoosa Street in Bremen, 
Georgia, as the ``Sergeant Paul Saylor Post Office Building''.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 6092

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

     SECTION 1. SERGEANT PAUL SAYLOR POST OFFICE BUILDING.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 101 Tallapoosa Street in Bremen, Georgia, 
     shall be known and designated as the ``Sergeant Paul Saylor 
     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 Paul Saylor Post Office 
     Building''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Davis) and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Turner) each will 
control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois.


                             General Leave

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. 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 Illinois?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, as a member of the House Committee on Oversight and 
Government Reform, I am pleased to join my colleagues, particularly the 
gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Gingrey), in the consideration of H.R. 6092 
which names the postal facility in Bremen, Georgia, after a fallen 
hero, Sergeant Paul Saylor.
  Introduced on May 20, 2008, H.R. 6092 is sponsored by Congressman 
Phil Gingrey, representative of Georgia's 11th Congressional District 
and cosponsored by the entire Georgia delegation and a total of 43 
Members of Congress. H.R. 6092 was reported from the Oversight 
Committee on June 12, 2008, by voice vote.
  Mr. Speaker, a native of Norcross, Georgia, Sergeant Paul Saylor lost 
his life while serving in Iraq. According to military records, Sergeant 
Saylor was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 108th Armor Regiment from the 
Georgia Army National Guard out of Calhoun, Georgia, when he was killed 
on August 15 as a result of his Humvee accidentally rolling over into a 
canal in Mahmudiyah, Iraq.
  Described as a good-hearted, very dedicated and hardworking 
gentleman, Sergeant Saylor served his country proudly and with 
distinction. In honor of sacrifice, Mr. Speaker, let us also pay 
tribute to the life of Sergeant Saylor and pass H.R. 6092 and designate 
the Tallapoosa Street post office building in Bremen, Georgia, after 
this fine American soldier.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. TURNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to 
the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Gingrey), the author of H.R. 6092.
  Mr. GINGREY. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Ohio (Mr. 
Turner), the ranking member of the subcommittee, for yielding. I also, 
Mr. Speaker, want to thank my good friend from Illinois, Representative 
Davis, for the kind words that he just expressed toward Sergeant Paul 
Saylor and for allowing this bill to come forward today.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 6092, a bill that I 
introduced to honor the life of Paul Anthony Saylor by designating the 
post office in Bremen, Georgia, in Haralson County, as the Sergeant 
Paul Saylor Post Office.
  Mr. Speaker, thankfully we are at a point today where the Iraqi 
Government is proving to be more and more capable of securing its 
country and where al Qaeda terrorists are on the verge of being 
completely routed. But we can all agree that the road on which we have 
traveled has been anything but smooth. Indeed, we have lost 4,166 of 
our Nation's greatest treasures in Iraq, the lives of the patriotic, 
heroic men and women who have served there.

[[Page H6198]]

  They are not just statistics, Mr. Speaker. There is a story behind 
each and every one of the brave men and women who have died serving our 
country in this global war on terror. I have come to know Paul's story 
very well over the last 3 years. You have heard the stories of other 
fallen heroes today who are being honored in the same way.
  Paul Saylor's story is indeed one of courage, kindness, generosity, 
and devotion to his family and to his great country. Paul was a beloved 
son to his parents, Jamie and Patti; a beloved brother to Little Jamie, 
his big brother; and a beloved nephew to Linda Kirkland. He enjoyed 
playing high school football with his older brother, and was known for 
his smile and his caring heart. My colleagues, I want you to look at 
Paul Saylor in this poster. He is, indeed, a kind young man.
  Since Paul's death, many have spoken of his penchant for standing up 
for others who were being bullied, for picking people up when they were 
down. It is a testament to the affection that others had for Paul that 
of the 5,000 citizens of Bremen, Georgia, his hometown, over 1,500 
attended his funeral.
  Mr. Speaker, it was Paul's sense of duty that led him to join the 
Georgia National Guard following his attendance at North Georgia 
College and State University. Upon joining, Paul probably had no idea 
he would be called upon to defend his country and our freedom in Iraq, 
but when he was, he bravely answered that call.
  He served our Nation in Iraq as a member of the Georgia National 
Guard's 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. Paul lost his life on August 
15, 2005, almost 3 years ago, while on patrol in Al Mahmudiyah, Iraq, 
when the vehicle in which he was traveling rolled down an embankment 
into a canal. He and two of his fellow scout team members died that 
day. Paul was 21 years old.
  Sadly, Mr. Speaker, upon being returned to his family, Paul's remains 
were in a state of advanced decomposition and they were not able to see 
him that one last time for the final good-bye.

                              {time}  1615

  His family has worked tirelessly since then to assure that the 
improved treatment of the remains of all fallen soldiers would ensure 
that no family, no family would ever have to experience a similar fate 
of not being able to view their son or daughter one last time.
  As I worked with Paul's family to address any potential shortfalls in 
our mortuary process, I have visited the mortuary facility at Dover Air 
Force Base in Delaware, as well as Mortuary Affairs Collection Point in 
Iraq, exactly where Paul fell, to try to evaluate the current processes 
and the procedures and identify any areas where improvements could be 
made. And those efforts led eventually to the inclusion of a provision 
last year in the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 
2007 requiring that all medical personnel be thoroughly trained not 
only in saving lives but also in remains preservation before they are 
deployed into the theater.
  This training is currently being carried out in the medical training 
facilities at Fort Sam Houston and the Brook Army Medical Center in San 
Antonio, Texas. On a recent visit last month, I was able to determine 
that the Army is solemnly carrying out this duty, and I am proud to 
report that to my colleagues.
  While we could never do enough to support and honor Paul's sacrifice, 
it is the least we can do to ensure that we honor the remains of our 
fallen heroes with the dignity and respect that they deserve. Our 
Nation will be forever indebted to Sergeant Paul Saylor. I know he is 
here with us today, and I would like to say to him, Thank you, Paul. 
Thank you for your service. And I want to thank his family. Paul, your 
spirit lives on, and you will never be forgotten.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask all my colleagues to join me today in honoring 
Sergeant Paul Saylor. Vote ``yes'' on H.R. 6092.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve.
  Mr. TURNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this bill designating the 
facility of the United States Postal Service located at 101 Tallapoosa 
Street in Bremen, Georgia, as the ``Sergeant Paul Saylor Post Office 
Building.''
  Friendly. Dedicated. Hardworking. These are but a few of the 
magnificent words of praise that arise when friends and family speak of 
the memory of Sergeant Paul Saylor.
  A native of Bremen, Georgia, Paul was a shining star in his 
community. A starter on the football team and committed thespian, Paul 
was voted ``best personality'' by his graduating class of 2002. After 
graduation, Paul attended North Georgia College and State University, a 
military college.
  Tragically, on August 15, 2005, Sergeant Saylor lost his life while 
serving as part of the National Guard's 48th Infantry in Al Mahmudiyah, 
Iraq.
  Described by his brother, Jamie, as the ``. . . type who would help 
you, but he wouldn't let you know it,'' Sergeant Saylor served his 
family, community, and country with selfless devotion.
  I rise today in honor of not only a tremendous patriot, but an 
outstanding citizen. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution in 
honor of a valiant life that should not, and will not, soon be 
forgotten by a grateful Nation.
  I yield back the balance of our time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I would yield back the balance of 
my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 6092.
  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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