[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 109 (Monday, July 14, 2014)]
[House]
[Pages H6157-H6158]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
FOUNTAIN COUNTY VETERANS MEMORIAL POST OFFICE
Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill
(H.R. 2802) to designate the facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 418 Liberty Street in Covington, Indiana, as the
``Fountain County Veterans Memorial Post Office''.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 2802
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. FOUNTAIN COUNTY VETERANS MEMORIAL POST OFFICE.
(a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 418 Liberty Street in Covington, Indiana,
shall be known and designated as the ``Fountain County
Veterans Memorial Post Office''.
(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 ``Fountain County Veterans Memorial Post
Office''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Arizona (Mr. Gosar) and the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cummings) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arizona.
General Leave
Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks
and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Arizona?
There was no objection.
Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2802, introduced by Representative Todd Rokita of
Indiana, would designate the facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 418 Liberty Street in Covington, Indiana, as the
Fountain County Veterans Memorial Post Office.
America as a nation is indebted to those who have risked their lives
to preserve the freedoms that each of us holds so dearly. This post
office dedication in the county seat of Covington will remind the
citizens of Fountain Valley of sacrifices made by its men and women in
service of their country. Additionally, naming the post office after
the Fountain County veterans honors the families and loved ones who
made the unimaginable sacrifice of parting with, and for those still
worrying about, cherished loved ones serving overseas.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join my colleagues in supporting H.R.
2802, a bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 418 Liberty Street in Covington, Indiana, as the
Fountain County Veterans Memorial Post Office.
The legislation before us honors the brave men and women from
Fountain County, Indiana, who have served in our Armed Forces. These
servicemembers have put this country before themselves by dedicating
their lives to defending the freedoms we as Americans hold so dear.
Their sacrifices should never be taken for granted, nor should they
ever be forgotten.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to vote in favor of this
legislation, and, with that, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I yield as many minutes as he may consume to
the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Rokita), a distinguished colleague.
Mr. ROKITA. Well, I thank, first of all, the gentleman from Arizona
for yielding his time and for his leadership here in the House of
Representatives, especially this evening with the good work that he is
managing here on the floor. I know, being his friend, that it is a
labor of love for him as it is for almost all of us, and so I just want
to, here, on the record, thank him for his continued service in the
House.
I also want to thank the ranking member for his willingness in
addressing and considering this legislation. It is important to the
people of Indiana, and I am grateful for his leadership as well.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this legislation that I was
honored to introduce and support in memory of the fallen soldiers of
Fountain County, Indiana.
Lance Corporal Josh Witsman was a marine from Covington, Indiana, and
was so very proud to have been born in the United States, and
especially Indiana, which he often referred to as ``God's country.''
Lance Corporal Witsman firmly believed in the freedoms enshrined in
our founding documents that have helped define our American
exceptionalism. He felt humbled by, honored to, and responsible for
fighting to uphold those very freedoms and standards which we talk
about so often here on the House floor, and that Americans talk about
throughout the country. He was not only humbled to serve his country,
but he was humbled to serve next to his fellow military brothers, whom
he would often boast to about how great Indiana was.
And, Mr. Speaker, he loved his family. He would often call his mother
at home and sing the song, ``Paint Me a Birmingham,'' only to swap in
his hometown of Covington for Birmingham. He couldn't wait to return
home to Indiana to be with all of them.
Sadly, Mr. Speaker, that day never came. You see, Lance Corporal Josh
Witsman died in the line of duty during his second tour of duty in
Afghanistan while serving with Weapons Company 2nd Battalion, 5th
Marines, on May 30, 2012. He was just 23.
{time} 1645
Josh's service and sacrifice were the inspiration for this bill, and
it started with an idea from one of Josh's close friends. That friend,
Noah Townsend, was in the supermarket one day, and he overheard a young
Hoosier ask her parents who Josh Witsman was.
The child's parents explained that Josh was a soldier who had given
his life for her freedom. Noah knew he had to find a way to make sure
Josh's memory and his sacrifice would be remembered in his hometown of
Covington.
Noah racked his brain for a few days trying to think what would be a
fitting memorial for Josh and his service. Later that week, Noah would
be driving down Liberty Street, and as he drove past the post office,
it hit him--Congress renames post offices for individuals who have made
some contribution to their city, State, or country, undoubtedly all
deserved.
[[Page H6158]]
Certainly, Josh's sacrifice and that of his family is worthy of
recognition in any number of ways, including naming a post office in
the city he called home, but recognition of his own work wasn't Josh's
way.
Before Noah Townsend came to me with this idea, he talked with Josh's
parents. Josh's mother, Kayla Witsman, was thankful for the gesture,
but she could hear her son saying: Mom, it is not just about me.
This young man, who gave his life for his country, and his mother's
interpretation of what his wishes would have been is correct. There are
so many heroes that have given their lives for this country worthy of a
similar recognition.
In Fountain County, there have been nearly 50 families who have lost
someone in service to their country. Let me assure you, Fountain County
is not a large population center in Indiana. As wonderful and as
welcoming as it is, full of great Hoosiers, it is a farming community.
It is not big, except in geography, and 50 families from that community
had some die serving their country.
That is why this legislation does not mention Josh Witsman's name. I
am proposing that we rename this post office on behalf of not only the
Witsman family, but all of the nearly 50 families in Fountain County
who have lost loved ones in service to our Nation.
It is my hope, Mr. Speaker, that this will serve as an everlasting
tribute to the sacrifices of these soldiers and their families.
In closing, I would also like to thank the entire Indiana House
delegation for their support of this legislation as well. On behalf of
Josh Witsman's family and all those who have sacrificed, I urge my
colleagues to support this bill.
Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to vote for this
legislation.
I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Gosar) that the House suspend the rules and
pass the bill, H.R. 2802.
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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