[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 160 (Thursday, September 27, 2018)]
[House]
[Page H9139]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      MOMENT OF SILENCE IN REMEMBRANCE OF CAPTAIN CONNOR BEDNARZYK

  (Mr. FITZPATRICK asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute.)
  Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, it is with profound sadness that I rise 
today with my colleagues to honor the life and the memory of Connor 
Bednarzyk, who tragically passed away on September 7 in an armored 
vehicle accident near Fort Benning, Georgia. Connor was 25 years old.
  Captain Bednarzyk grew up in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, where, even at 
a young age, he demonstrated superb leadership. A 2011 graduate of 
Central Bucks East High School, where he lettered in football, 
baseball, and wrestling, he went on to attend Penn State University on 
an ROTC scholarship. He graduated with a degree in security risk 
analysis, graduating in the top 10 percent of ROTC graduates in the 
entire United States.
  An Army Ranger, Captain Bednarzyk was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 
75th Ranger Regiment, at Fort Benning. In his time in the Army, he was 
awarded the Ranger Tab, the Air Assault Badge, the Army Parachutist 
Badge, and the Expert Infantryman's Badge.
  He previously deployed to Kosovo, where he conducted training 
exercises and led U.S. troops on a peacekeeping mission with NATO 
forces and local military.
  Captain Bednarzyk is an American hero. While his life was tragically 
cut short, his service to our community and to our Nation will forever 
live on. His courage and his determination to succeed are truly 
inspirational.
  We send our deepest condolences to Captain Bednarzyk's parents, Casey 
and Ruth, along with his brother Kevin and grandfather Francis.
  Thank you for sharing his life with us.
  Rangers lead the way. Connor Bednarzyk led the way.
  I now ask my colleagues to join me in a moment of silence for an 
American hero, Connor Bednarzyk.

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