[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 78 (Tuesday, May 10, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H4789-H4790]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    COMMAND SERGEANT MAJOR LAWRENCE E. `RABBIT' KENNEDY POST OFFICE 
                                BUILDING

  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend 
the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 207) to designate the facility of the 
United States Postal Service located at 215 1st Avenue in Amory, 
Mississippi, as the ``Command Sergeant Major Lawrence E. `Rabbit' 
Kennedy Post Office Building''.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                 H.R. 207

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. COMMAND SERGEANT MAJOR LAWRENCE E. ``RABBIT'' 
                   KENNEDY POST OFFICE BUILDING.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 215 1st Avenue in Amory, Mississippi, 
     shall be known and designated as the ``Command Sergeant Major 
     Lawrence E. `Rabbit' Kennedy Post Office Building''.
       (b) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation, 
     document, paper, or other record of the United States to the 
     facility referred to in subsection (a) shall be deemed to be 
     a reference to the ``Command Sergeant Major Lawrence E. 
     `Rabbit' Kennedy Post Office Building''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
New York (Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney) and the gentlewoman from South 
Carolina (Ms. Mace) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from New York.


                             General Leave

  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous 
consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise 
and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this 
measure.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such 
time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 207, to designate the 
facility of the U.S. Postal Service located at 215 1st Avenue in Amory, 
Mississippi, as the ``Command Sergeant Major Lawrence E. `Rabbit' 
Kennedy Post Office Building.''
  Command Sergeant Major Lawrence Kennedy enlisted in the U.S. Army in 
October of 1940 by walking for 2 days from his hometown of Smithville 
to Tupelo.
  Over the course of his 35 years in the United States Army, he served 
in World War II, the Korean war, and the Vietnam war.
  Command Sergeant Major Kennedy fought in the Battle of the Bulge, 
participated in 506 airborne jumps, and was featured on the cover of 
Life Magazine, along with the Army's 1st Cavalry 9th Division.
  In 2017, Command Sergeant Major Kennedy was commended by the 
Mississippi legislature by House Concurrent Resolution 51, authored in 
honor of his outstanding military career.
  After serving for 35 years, he continued to serve local veterans, 
founding the annual veterans' breakfast in partnership with Community 
Bank.
  On July 20, 2017, Command Sergeant Major Kennedy passed away.
  I encourage all of my colleagues to join me in honoring the legacy of 
this patriot by naming the post office at 215 1st Avenue in Armory, 
Mississippi, as the ``Command Sergeant Major Lawrence E. `Rabbit' 
Kennedy Post Office Building''.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. MACE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from 
Mississippi (Mr. Kelly), the sponsor of the bill.
  Mr. KELLY of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of 
H.R. 207, renaming the post office in Amory, Mississippi, for Command 
Sergeant Major Lawrence E. ``Rabbit'' Kennedy. Rabbit is an American 
hero, and I am proud to sponsor this legislation in his honor.
  Rabbit enlisted in the United States Army in October of 1940. To do 
so, he walked for 2 days from his hometown of Smithville to Tupelo. 
Rabbit served in World War II, the Korean war, and the Vietnam war over 
the course of 35 years in the United States Army. There were not a lot 
of three-war veterans in our lifetimes, and he was a true hero. I am 
proud to have known him personally.
  Rabbit's accounts of World War II battles are features of the 2014 
book ``Last Eyewitnesses, World War II Memories: D-Day to 70th 
Anniversary.'' He fought in the Battle of the Bulge where he spent 9 
days in a foxhole next to a dead German soldier.
  Command Sergeant Major Kennedy led the Army's 1st Cavalry Division in 
Vietnam, and a photo of his leading his men into combat was featured on 
the cover of Life Magazine.
  During his career in the United States Army, Rabbit Kennedy earned 
four Legions of Merit, four Bronze Stars, participated in 506 airborne 
jumps, and retired as one of the most decorated soldiers in the history 
of the United States Army.
  In 2017, Rabbit Kennedy was commended by the Mississippi legislature 
in House Concurrent Resolution 51. He was also the first enlisted man 
inducted into the Hall of Fame at the United States Army Aviation 
Museum at Fort Rucker, Alabama.
  Rabbit Kennedy continued to serve local veterans throughout his life, 
which is where I met him. He never quit helping veterans, even after he 
got out after his 35 years of military service.
  Rabbit Kennedy is regarded as a community leader and a true American 
hero. On July 20, 2017, he went to be with the Lord and will always be 
locally remembered as a patriot and a member of the Greatest 
Generation.
  It is a true and lasting honor to remember the service of Rabbit 
Kennedy. I just have to say again, he was an amazing man who served 
this country in three wars, but he always had time for everyone, and he 
always had time for a veteran in need and was always helping.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to 
close, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. MACE. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill 
honoring one of the most decorated U.S. Army

[[Page H4790]]

soldiers in the history of our country, and I yield back the balance of 
my time.
  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of 
H.R. 207 for this national hero, and I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 207.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. CLYDE. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution 
8, the yeas and nays are ordered.
  Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion 
are postponed.

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