[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 110 (Thursday, July 21, 2011)]
[House]
[Page H5289]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               HONORING PRIVATE FIRST CLASS ROSS McGINNIS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, since 1947, every August, 
the Little League Baseball World Series is held in South Williamsport, 
Pennsylvania, within Pennsylvania's Fifth Congressional District. And 
each year, Little League International recognizes Little League 
graduates who have become outstanding citizens and role models as 
adults for induction into the Little League Museum Hall of Excellence.
  Among previous recipients of this honor include prominent figures 
such as Vice President Joe Biden in 2009, General Peter Pace in 2003, 
and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani in 2002.
  This year's ceremony will prove to be extra special. For 2011, Little 
League International plans to enshrine the first-ever Little League 
graduate known to have received our Nation's highest military award, 
the Medal of Honor. That person is Army Private First Class Ross Andrew 
McGinnis of Knox, Pennsylvania. Ross McGinnis played second base and 
outfield for 6 years and is a graduate of Little League in Knox, 
Pennsylvania, also in the Fifth District.
  In 2006, Army Private First Class Ross McGinnis heroically gave his 
life to save four others from a grenade blast inside a Humvee during 
Operation Iraqi Freedom. On June 2, 2008, McGinnis was awarded the 
Medal of Honor posthumously for his heroic actions.
  I will quote from President George Bush: ``In a selfless act of 
bravery, in which he was mortally wounded, Private McGinnis covered the 
live grenade, pinning it between his body and the vehicle and absorbing 
most of the explosion,'' the official citation read, which was awarded 
by President George Bush. McGinnis' mother, Romayne, says baseball 
taught her son teamwork and a commitment to achieving common goals.
  Today, because of McGinnis' sacrifice and commitment to others, four 
men will live on to enjoy their families and their futures. 
Congratulations to you, Ross Andrew McGinnis. We thank you for your 
service, and may you rest in peace. Thank you to Little League 
International for recognizing Mr. McGinnis' heroic achievements. To the 
McGinnis family, we are proud of your son, a true American hero.

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