[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 56 (Tuesday, March 28, 2023)]
[House]
[Page H1470]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               HONORING THE LIFE OF JOHN PATRICK KILBRIDE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. D'Esposito) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. D'ESPOSITO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of a 
veteran, public servant, and fellow brother in blue, John Patrick 
Kilbride, better known as Jack.
  Jack Kilbride was a man who lived a life of service to the people of 
America, his fellow Long Islanders, and his comrades from the United 
States military.
  Indeed, as a young man and recent graduate of Division Avenue High 
School in Levittown, Jack enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 
1967, at the height of the Vietnam war. Jack was sent to Vietnam as a 
member of the India Company in the 3rd Battalion, 26th Marine Regiment, 
where he fought valiantly at Khe Sanh and earned two Purple Hearts.
  After catching malaria, Jack was sent home, only to be redeployed to 
Vietnam for a second tour with the 9th Marines, also known as the 
Walking Dead, a reputation they earned through their valor in combat.
  After his honorable discharge from military service, Jack joined the 
ranks of the Freeport Police Department back on Long Island, where he 
served that community faithfully for 18 years, also as a member of 
their PBA.
  Upon his retirement from the Freeport Police Department, Jack 
continued his life of public service by joining Congressman Pete King's 
staff as his military congressional aide, a position he held for 10 
years.
  Jack's remarkable record of selfless service truly distinguished him 
in the community, but Jack was not just a committed public servant. He 
was also a dedicated family man, as well.
  Jack was a loving husband to Virginia, known to many as Ginny; a 
father to Michael, Kelly, and Kristin; and grandfather to 12 
grandchildren, who lit up his world and knew him best as Pop.
  He was also the brother to Marine Corps Major Chuck Kilbride, a great 
man who works on Long Island to make sure underprivileged children see 
the blessings of the holiday season each and every year by leading our 
Toys for Tots program.
  Upon Jack's death, he marked the members of the Veterans of Foreign 
Wars, American Legion, Marine Corps League, and Law Enforcement 
Foundation as his friends and comrades in arms.
  On this day, I join many friends, and my friend, Major Chuck 
Kilbride, in remembering the life and legacy of John Kilbride, a man 
who lived his life in service to his family, his community, and this 
great Nation.
  New York's Fourth Congressional District truly lost an incredible, 
selfless neighbor, but Jack's memory will live on forever.
  May he rest in peace.

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