[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 90 (Wednesday, June 8, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E849-E850]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 HONORING THE SERVICE OF GARY EDMONDSON

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. CHARLES W. BOUSTANY, JR.

                              of louisiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 8, 2016

  Mr. BOUSTANY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and service 
of Gary Edmondson. A veteran of the United States Army, Gary recently 
celebrated 70 years of playing TAPS at military funerals throughout the 
state of Louisiana at no cost to the families. He played his first 
military funeral in 1946, as a young Boy Scout at the age of 12 and for 
the last seven decades has never looked back.

[[Page E850]]

   Born in August of 1934 in Brooklyn, N.Y., Gary joined the Army at 
the age of 21; eventually earning a place in the U.S. Army band in 
Louisville, Ky. Gary dedicated his life to playing TAPS to honor fellow 
veterans at their funerals. After relocating to Lafayette, Louisiana, 
in 1959, he notified all six of the local funeral homes to let them 
know he was always available to play TAPS free of charge.
   Since moving to Acadiana, Gary has become a fixture of the 
community. He has played countless funerals, military, veterans, and 
community events throughout his lifetime of service. Just this past 
Memorial Day, he played in services at Lafayette Memorial Park, as well 
as Green Lawn Memorial Park--a tradition he has kept since 1964.
   Gary's seven decades of heartfelt dedication to our fallen heroes is 
an inspiration to us all. In 2013, he earned an induction into the 
Living Legends Hall of Fame in Erath, La. In 2014, he created the 
Acadiana Veterans Honor Guard and was instrumental in securing funding 
to ensure every local veteran will receive full military funeral 
honors. Beloved by the entire community; Gary Edmondson has enriched 
the lives of countless families during their darkest hours. I rise to 
ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join me in 
recognizing his lifetime of service, dedicated to providing the final 
tribute to our fallen heroes as their families lay them to rest.

                          ____________________