[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 195 (Friday, November 5, 2021)]
[House]
[Page H6212]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING JAMES P. BURIAK

  (Mr. GRIFFITH asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. GRIFFITH. Madam Speaker, I offer these remarks in honor of Naval 
Aircrewman 1st Class James ``Jimmy'' P. Buriak, who died on August 31, 
2021, at the age of 31.
  Mr. Buriak, of Salem, Virginia, was one of five sailors who died when 
their helicopter from the USS Abraham Lincoln crashed into the sea off 
the coast of southern California.
  Mr. Buriak was born on May 9, 1990, to Jim and Carol Buriak in Salem. 
Jimmy graduated from Salem High School and Roanoke College. Jimmy 
joined the Navy in 2017.
  During the last year of his life, Jimmy was honored for rescuing a 
man who was caught in a rip current off Guam's Gun Beach.
  Mr. Buriak's thoughtful character far exceeded the parameters of his 
job. He always went out of his way to help those in need and to go the 
extra mile that others weren't willing to do. Jimmy was a great young 
man.
  His wife, Megan, is starting the AWS1 James Buriak Foundation to 
continue honoring his legacy. The foundation will seek to improve 
financial shortcomings for Gold Star families with small children.
  Mr. Buriak is survived by his wife, Megan; his very young son, 
Caulder; as well as his parents, Jim and Carol Buriak; his sister, 
Laura; and his brother-in-law, Erik Zickefoose.
  Madam Speaker, I offer Jimmy's entire family my condolences on their 
loss. He was a great young man.
  Madam Speaker, as an aside, Jimmy used to play water polo with me in 
the summertime.

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