[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 195 (Thursday, December 15, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1306]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       HONORING THE MILITARY AND PUBLIC SERVICE OF BRENNA HOLDER

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. STEVEN M. PALAZZO

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 15, 2022

  Mr. PALAZZO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Sergeant First 
Class (Retired) Brenna Holder for her over 31-year career to the 
Mississippi Army National Guard where she served as an Active Guard 
Reserve Soldier (AGR). She has also served in my office for nearly 4 
years as a Congressional Staffer assisting nearly 3,000 of my 
constituents.
  She comes from a long line of Patriots, most notably her maternal 
grandfather, Dominick Fenelli, a United States Marine Corps, World War 
II Purple Heart recipient. Like her grandfather, her service began when 
she was 18 years old.
  She enlisted as a Private attending basic training at Fort Jackson, 
SC. She served with the Installation Support Unit at Camp Shelby as an 
Administrative Specialist. She was mobilized in 1990 for Operation 
Desert Storm in support of Camp Shelby. She moved to Washington, D.C. 
in 1991 and served in the Special Actions Branch at National Guard 
Bureau. She served as a National Guard Support Coordinator handling 
logistics and administrative support for the Operation Desert Storm 
Homecoming Parades in Washington, D.C., and New York City. In 1997, she 
earned her diploma as a Licensed Practical Nurse while serving in the 
108th Combat Support Hospital at Fort Indiantown Gap, PA. In 2000, she 
was hired AGR to serve as the Medical Detachment 6 NCOIC at Camp 
Shelby. She was mobilized again in 2004 in support of Operation Iraqi 
Freedom in support of units mobilizing at Mobilization Center Shelby. 
She later served as the Human Resources Senior Noncommissioned Officer 
in the Personnel Section S1 at the 154th Regiment, Regional Training 
Institute. She was instrumental in her section receiving favorable 
results in multiple TRADOC inspections. She served a few years as the 
Mississippi National Guard NCO Association's Awards Chairperson. She 
received training as an Intelligence Analyst at Fort Bragg, NC, 
Emergency Medical Technician at Camp Shelby, and Army Instructor at the 
Regional Training Institute at Camp Shelby. Her military training 
culminated with her completion of the Master Leader Course. She was 
honorarily promoted to Master Sergeant in the State of Mississippi upon 
her retirement.
  She received many state and federal awards while in service. Most 
notably, the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medals, and 
Army Achievement Medals.
  Brenna was also a former Miss Mississippi Petite and selected in the 
top ten at the National level. She earned her Associates of Applied 
Science degree from Delaware County Community College graduating with 
high honors in Surgical Technology. She worked in the Operating Room at 
Wesley Medical Center before returning to Active Duty. She also studied 
Management Information Systems and Applied Technology at the University 
of Southern Mississippi.
  Like many soldiers, she juggled it all while raising her family. She 
has two boys, and has been married to her husband, Josh, for over 22 
years.
  She has been a compassionate, dedicated, and loyal member of my team. 
I am honored to recognize her for her outstanding service to my 
constituents of South Mississippi and her example as a true American 
Patriot.

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