[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 150 (Wednesday, December 10, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1778]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




HONORING THE HEROIC SERVICE AND SACRIFICE OF ABDUL-RAHMAN PETER EDWARD 
                                 KASSIG

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. SUSAN W. BROOKS

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 10, 2014

  Mrs. BROOKS of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the 
service and sacrifice of Abdul-Rahman Peter Edward Kassig. Tragically 
before his time, Kassig was taken from this earth by the hands of the 
terrorist group ISIL. He will forever be remembered as a selfless man 
who gave his life in service to those who needed it most. I also honor 
his loving and dedicated parents, Ed and Paula Kassig, who live in 
Indianapolis.
  Although he was only 26 at the time of his death, Abdul-Rahman Peter 
Kassig dedicated his entire adult life to serving others. Born and 
raised in Indianapolis, Kassig graduated from North Central High School 
in 2006. Upon his graduation, Kassig served as a soldier in the U.S. 
Army as a member of the 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment. Deployed 
to the Middle East, he bravely served his country and returned to the 
United States with an Honorable Medical Discharge.
  After his tenure in the Army, Kassig attended Hanover College and 
Butler University. During this time, he also trained as an Emergency 
Medical Technician. In 2012, after seeing the suffering of Syrian 
refugees in Lebanon, he left higher education to use his medical 
training by providing humanitarian aid to those affected by the ongoing 
conflict in Syria. He founded a non-profit, Special Emergency Response 
Assistance (SERA), to provide Syrian refugees with medical supplies, 
medical assistance, clothing and food. Kassig also taught trauma care 
skills to others and thus spread his knowledge and good works to 
countless people.
  The compassion and selflessness that Kassig displayed is an 
inspiration to his fellow Hoosiers and everyone who dreams of a more 
peaceful world. The danger he faced did nothing to temper his resolve 
to help those who needed it most. Kassig and SERA were dedicated to 
providing acute logistical support and assistance in areas too 
difficult for other humanitarian organizations to effectively operate.
  Abdul-Rahman Peter Edward Kassig will be remembered as a young man of 
tremendous courage and integrity by family and friends from Indiana and 
across the globe. I join people of all faiths in praying for the 
comfort of those who mourn his death and a more peaceful world for all 
to live in.

                          ____________________