[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 95 (Wednesday, June 15, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E923]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             TRIBUTE TO KONNER ROSS AND DEBORAH PETTINGILL

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                          HON. DAVID W. JOLLY

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 15, 2016

  Mr. JOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I would like to acknowledge two members of 
our community, high school student Konner Ross and her teacher Deborah 
Pettingill, for bringing light to the story of a fallen World War II 
soldier from our community.
  As a part of the Silent Hero Project, Ms. Ross recently wrote a 
eulogy for a St. Petersburg-native and WWII soldier, Private Leo K. 
Chalcraft. The Silent Hero Project is organized by the National History 
Day program. Fifteen teams of high school students and teachers 
research someone from their home state who is buried in Normandy, and 
Ms. Ross chose Private Chalcraft for her project.
  He was only 19 years old and was drafted to serve. However, in 1944 
off the coast of France, he drowned after the boat he was on sank. 
While researching Private Chalcraft's life, Ms. Ross felt a personal 
connection to him because he was so young when he was drafted and when 
he was killed in combat. She felt it was her responsibility to honor 
this young man from our community.
  Her teacher, Deborah Pettingill, helped Ms. Ross with the project. 
Together, they have learned a lot about Private Chalcraft from military 
and burial records. They were also able to find his younger brother 
Albert, who had a lot of Private Chalcraft's mementos like a Purple 
Heart, flag, and telegrams. Eventually, the two will create a website 
honoring Private Chalcraft and the sacrifice he made for this country.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to acknowledge the work and effort of Ms. 
Konner Ross and Ms. Deborah Pettingill for bringing this memory back to 
our community and honoring Private Chalcraft's service to Pinellas 
County and to our country. I ask that this body join me in recognizing 
these two for the work they have done in honoring Private Chalcraft.

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