[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 90 (Tuesday, June 16, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6665-S6666]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CONDEMNING THE MURDER OF PRIVATE WILLIAM ANDREW ``ANDY'' LONG AND THE 
                 WOUNDING OF PRIVATE QUINTON EZEAGWULA

  Mr. REID. I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the 
immediate consideration of S. Res. 186 submitted earlier today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 186) condemning the murder of Army 
     Private William Andrew ``Andy'' Long and the wounding of Army 
     Private Quinton Ezeagwula, who were shot outside the Army-
     Navy Career Center in Little Rock, Arkansas on June 1, 2009.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mrs. LINCOLN. Madam President, I rise today to pay tribute to a young 
man, Army PVT William Andrew Long, of Conway, AR. Last week, he was 
laid to rest at the Arkansas Veterans Cemetery in North Little Rock. He 
was buried with full military honors and was awarded the Army 
Commendation Medal and the Army Good Conduct Medal.
  Private Long was a loving son, brother, and friend whose life was 
tragically cut short on June 1 in a senseless attack outside of an 
Army-Navy Career Center in Little Rock, AR. PVT Quinton Ezeagwila was 
also injured in the attack. Our thoughts and prayers are with him, and 
we hope he makes a very speedy recovery.
  Private Long had recently finished Army training and was set to 
deploy to South Korea. He had been appointed to the Army's Hometown 
Recruiter Assistance Program in Little Rock and was at the Army 
recruiting office on that fateful day because he had volunteered to 
tell others about his experience in the U.S. military.
  Known to his friends and family as Andy, Private Long will always be 
remembered by all of us and all of them for his boundless energy, his 
keen intelligence, his infectious smile, and his great sense of humor. 
His country and all Arkansans will remember him as a hero with the 
courage to serve his Nation during a time of war. He will also be 
remembered as a young man whose life was ended way too soon.
  Private Long hailed from a fiercely patriotic family, with four 
generations of uniformed service to the United States. Andy's great 
grandfather and grandfather served. Both of his parents served, and his 
brother, PFC Triston Long, continues to serve today and will be 
deployed to Iraq later this summer. On behalf of my colleagues in the 
Senate and the people of Arkansas, I wish to take this moment to thank 
the Long family for their extraordinary dedication and service to our 
Nation.
  On that tragic day, Andy was targeted in what I view as an act of 
terrorism because of the uniform he wore--a uniform that stands as a 
symbol of this great country.
  Ours is a nation where we resolve our differences through debate and 
democratic elections, not through violence. This is a country where 
freedom is cherished and liberty is recognized as an inalienable right 
for all people.
  Terrorism has absolutely no place in this country, and as elected 
representatives of the people, it is our duty to ensure we are doing 
everything we can to combat terrorism, bring justice to its 
perpetrators, and protect our communities and our families. That is why 
I stand here today to put forth a resolution condemning the murder of 
Private Long and condemning the use of violence to achieve political 
ends. Additionally, I call for the swift prosecution, to the fullest 
extent of the law, of the perpetrators of this senseless shooting.
  The men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces risk their lives every 
day, both overseas and here on our own soil in the United States. Let 
it be

[[Page S6666]]

known that their resolve will not and cannot be shattered. The ideals 
represented by the uniform worn by Andy Long, his parents, and the 
generations of brave American men and women before them, still serve to 
represent liberty and justice for all, and no act of terrorism can 
diminish that. It can only strengthen our resolve and reaffirm our 
commitment to America's most basic ideals and values.
  Our country owes a great debt to Private Long for his service, as 
well as to the brave men and women in the Armed Forces who protect and 
defend the freedoms we cherish as Americans each and every day. Our 
thoughts and prayers go out to Private Long's family and to all of 
those who knew and loved him. We are a grateful nation for incredible 
individuals like Private Andy Long.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor.
  Mr. REID. I ask unanimous consent the resolution be agreed to, the 
preamble be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table 
with no intervening action or debate, and any statements be printed in 
the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 186) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 186

       Whereas on June 1, 2009, Private William Andrew ``Andy'' 
     Long, aged 23, of Conway, Arkansas, was murdered outside the 
     Army-Navy Career Center in Little Rock, Arkansas;
       Whereas on June 1, 2009, Private Quinton Ezeagwula, aged 
     18, of Jacksonville, Arkansas, was wounded by gunfire outside 
     the Army-Navy Career Center in Little Rock, Arkansas;
       Whereas there are more than 1,400,000 active component and 
     more than 1,200,000 reserve component members of the Armed 
     Forces protecting the United States;
       Whereas there are more than 8,000 Army and Army Reserve 
     recruiters and more than 7,000 Navy recruiters serving at 
     more than 1,500 military recruiting stations and centers in 
     United States, Guam, Puerto Rico, and Europe;
       Whereas the men and women of the Armed Forces risk their 
     lives every day to preserve the freedoms cherished by people 
     in the United States;
       Whereas service in the Armed Forces demands extraordinary 
     sacrifices from service members and their families and often 
     places service members in harm's way;
       Whereas members of the Armed Forces are the targets of 
     violence not only abroad but in the United States as well; 
     and
       Whereas such violence is reprehensible and must not be 
     tolerated: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) offers its condolences to the family of Private William 
     Andrew ``Andy'' Long;
       (2) hopes for a full recovery for Private Quinton 
     Ezeagwula;
       (3) urges swift prosecution to the fullest extent of the 
     law of the perpetrator or perpetrators of this senseless 
     shooting;
       (4) urges the people of the United States to join the 
     Senate in condemning acts of violence; and
       (5) honors the service and sacrifice of all men and women 
     in the Armed Services who protect and defend our freedom 
     every day.

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