[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 147 (Wednesday, September 28, 2016)]
[House]
[Page H6007]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                HONORING SPECIALIST JONATHAN R. KEPHART

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, over this past weekend 
people in Oil City, Venango County, located in Pennsylvania's Fifth 
Congressional District, joined to honor an American hero.
  On April 8, 2004, Specialist Jonathan Kephart was killed in Iraq 
after his convoy patrol was ambushed outside of Baghdad. Kephart was 
credited with protecting his fellow soldiers by laying down fire 
against hundreds of enemy fighters, even after being wounded twice. He 
was the first soldier from Venango County killed in Iraq or 
Afghanistan.
  Last Saturday, the Petroleum Street Bridge in Oil City was named 
after Specialist Kephart, and September 24 was declared Jonathan R. 
Kephart Memorial Day in Oil City.
  I want to commend the efforts of everyone who worked to make this a 
reality, including State Representative Lee James, who authored and led 
the effort to pass the bill that made this distinction possible, 
earning unanimous approval in the Pennsylvania State House and Senate.
  It is my hope that, because of this memorial to Specialist Kephart, 
his bravery and his sacrifice will live on in the hearts and the minds 
of the people in Oil City and Venango County for generations to come.

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