[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 129 (Wednesday, July 26, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S3613]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     HONORING CAPTAIN ROBERT C. HARMON AND PRIVATE JOHN R. PEIRSON

  Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. President, today I rise to honor posthumously half-
brothers Captain Robert C. Harmon and Private John R. Peirson from New 
Richmond, WI, who both made the ultimate sacrifice for our great Nation 
during World War II.
  A week before the D-Day invasion on the Normandy coast and on his 
51st mission, Captain Harmon's plane was shot down over occupied France 
by German artillery. Initially listed as missing-in-action, Captain 
Harmon was officially declared dead on May 29, 1945, by the U.S. War 
Department.
  Motivated by a sense of duty to his country, as well as the loss of 
his older half-brother, Private Peirson enlisted in the U.S. Army. He 
was mortally wounded during the April 16, 1945, Easter Day assault on 
the island of Okinawa, Japan, and died of his wounds the following day.
  A joint memorial service was held in New Richmond, WI, on April 26, 
1949, for the repatriated remains of the two fallen brothers. They are 
buried side by side at the Fort Snelling Cemetery in Minneapolis, MN. 
Both were posthumously awarded the Purple Heart.
  In recognition of their service and sacrifice, I was proud to sponsor 
and witness successful passage of S. 2932 during the 117th Congress, a 
bill to designate the facility of the U.S. Postal Service located at 
430 South Knowles Avenue in New Richmond, WI, as the ``Captain Robert 
C. Harmon and Private John R. Peirson Post Office Building.'' This 
legislation was passed in the Senate by unanimous consent on May 25, 
2022, and was signed into law by President Joseph R. Biden, Jr., on 
December 29, 2022.
  The official dedication and celebration of the Captain Robert C. 
Harmon and Private John R. Peirson Post Office Building will take place 
on August 25, 2023. Family, friends, fellow veterans, elected leaders, 
and community members will come together to remember these brothers and 
their service to our country. Local support of this dedication includes 
the New Richmond City Council, along with Mayors Fred Horne and Jim 
Zajkowski; the New Richmond Chamber of Commerce; the Butler-Harmon 
American Legion Post 80; and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10818 
New Richmond/St. Croix County. Special recognition is due to Ms. Sally 
Berkholder who has been a tireless advocate for this dedication and 
ensuring that the family and community is able to properly celebrate 
and honor the service of the Harmon/Peirson brothers.
  Captain Harmon and Private Peirson heroically gave their lives 
serving our country during World War II. They bravely fought for our 
American values and freedom, and we are indebted by their sacrifice. I 
am proud that their memory will live on by the official dedication of 
the New Richmond Post Office as the ``Captain Robert C. Harmon and 
Private John R. Peirson Post Office Building.''

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