[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 98 (Wednesday, June 13, 2018)]
[House]
[Page H5098]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            HONORING THE LIFE OF WILLIAM ALLEN KENDRICK, JR.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Louisiana (Mr. Abraham) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of William 
Allen Kendrick, Jr., a Marine and lifelong resident of Jena, Louisiana, 
who died tragically on May 24.
  Allen led a life driven by passion, patriotism, and faith, values he 
lived and expressed through music. He served as a bandsman in the 
Marine Corps for 8 years and brought his enthusiasm for music and 
theater back to civilian life in his hometown of Jena, a small rural 
community that I have the privilege to represent in my district.
  Allen first discovered his love of music at Nolley Memorial United 
Methodist Church when he joined the Nolley group known as the Nolley 
Notables as a young student. As an adult, he created the Nolley 
Memorial UMC Grace Notes Choir and doubled the size of the LaSalle 
Parish Community Choir after becoming its director.
  Not surprisingly, Allen incorporated his love for God and country in 
his music, and it showed when he performed the most notable 
arrangements during Independence Day, Memorial Day, and other veterans 
events.
  He was also a member of the Jena Community Theater Group called 
Acting Up, and a former band director at Jena High School.
  Allen shared a quote on his Facebook page that said: ``Music is not 
what I do. It's who I am.'' He lived that life every day, and all of us 
who heard his music are better for it.
  I join all those who have been blessed by Allen's music, and I mourn 
his passing, as does the community. It will be hard not to think of him 
the next time I attend a service in Jena, though I know that his legacy 
and his patriotism will forever be a special part of Jena and Louisiana 
and, hopefully, the Nation.

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