[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 17 (Thursday, January 28, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E63]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               HONORING VETERAN EDISON THOMAS BROWN, JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 28, 2016

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a 
remarkable veteran, Mr. Edison Thomas Brown, Jr.
  U.S. Army Veteran Edison Thomas Brown, Jr. is a Mississippi native 
who was born and reared in the hills of Holmes County within the U.S. 
Second Congressional District.
  Born in the very late 1950's, Mr. Brown, and other youth like him, 
grew up during the heat of oppression, segregation and poverty of the 
Holmes County 1960s civil rights movement. Yet, Mr. Brown says, he nor 
his family ever viewed themselves as underclass.
  Although poor by economic standards and conditions, he and his 
siblings learned early of the importance of working hard to make a 
decent living by two nurturing parents, who were farmers themselves and 
who also worked for white farmers as well, picking cotton and such. His 
parents were Edison Thomas Brown, Sr. and Ednora Randle Brown (both now 
deceased).
  His father was also a U.S. Army veteran who served in World War II. 
In fact, Mr. Brown says he was inspired to volunteer to serve his 
country in the military by his father and eldest brother James, a U.S. 
Army Vietnam veteran. After graduating from high school at what is 
formerly known as Tchula Attendance Center (TAC) in Tchula. MS, he 
began his military career in July, 1975 at Fort Knox, Ky.
  During his tour of duty, he was trained and served as a Track Vehicle 
Mechanic, specializing in diesel repairs. His U.S. military career also 
included service in Gelnhausen, Germany.
  While in the military, he earned the rank of Specialist 4th Class 
(SPEC 4). Proud to serve his country, Mr. Brown is grateful that his 
military career afforded him many travels that he would not have 
afforded to make and opportunities he possibly would not have had.
  Mr. Brown's tour of duty concluded at Fort Stewart, GA in 1979; 
however, he remained in reserve status until 1981, when he received an 
Honorable Discharge.
  After the military, Mr. Brown took advantage of the GI Bill and began 
to educate himself (part-time) in Electronic Service Technology 
coursework. Over the years, he has served in several employment 
capacities in the Metro Jackson area. His longest stint was with McRaes 
Distribution and its merging operations, 1985-2001.
  Today, a Clinton, Miss. resident in the Second Congressional 
District, Mr. Brown spends most of his time actively serving in Holy 
Temple Baptist Church of West Jackson, pastored by the history-making 
Rev. Audrey Lynne Hall. At Holy Temple as a deacon, he is Chairman and 
also serves as Sunday School Superintendent and teacher. He, his wife, 
Gail, and son, Edison, III, have also participated in the church's 
ongoing Homeless Outreach Ministry in which the church gives 
toiletries, snacks and other needful items to the homeless once a month 
at Poindexter Park near Downtown Jackson.
  Mr. Brown's favorite scripture of the Bible in which he tries to live 
by is Proverbs 3:5-6--``Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and 
lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, 
and he shall direct thy paths.''
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing a special 
Veteran, Mr. Edison Thomas Brown, Jr., for his dedication and support 
to the Holmes County Community.

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