[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 193 (Thursday, December 15, 2011)]
[House]
[Page H8983]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          BENNY COCKERHAM, III

  (Ms. EDWARDS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Ms. EDWARDS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to our 
servicemen and -women who end their mission in Iraq.
  Like many, I woke this morning to the End of Mission ceremony, and I 
thought about Corporal Benny ``Gray'' Cockerham, III of North Carolina. 
He was the son of my good friends Ben and Jill Cockerham. He lost his 
life at age 21 in al-Anbar province in Iraq on October 21, 2005.
  Like his father, he joined the Marine Corps in service to this 
Nation, and he is survived by Ben and Jill; his wife, Amanda; and his 
brother, Adam.
  And like the 4,486 other men and women who lost their lives in Iraq, 
the mission has ended.
  I want to pay tribute today to all of our servicemen and -women for 
their service and for their sacrifice and especially to my friends Ben 
and Jill for the loss of your son. I remember when he was born on June 
28, as we shared a birthday, and I want you to know that the Nation is 
ever grateful for all your sacrifice and for your service.

                          ____________________