[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 85 (Thursday, May 16, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E515-E516]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       HONORING AND REMEMBERING RETIRED MARINE BURTON RAY GIGOUX

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. MATTHEW M. ROSENDALE, SR.

                               of montana

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 16, 2024

  Mr. ROSENDALE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember and honor 
retired Marine Burton

[[Page E516]]

Ray Gigoux for his selfless dedication to our country and his lifelong 
commitment to serving communities across Montana. On December 23, 2023, 
Burt, as his friends called him, went home to his Lord and Savior after 
a courageous battle with cancer. However, this extraordinary Montanan 
left a legacy that continues to inspire all of us today.
  Since graduating High School, Burt has lived a life dedicated to 
public service, which led him to bravely answer the call of duty to 
serve in the United States Marine Corps. Following his courageous 
service in the Marine Corps, Burt married Anita, who became his 
lifelong partner in all his endeavors. After marrying, they both moved 
to Billings, Montana, where they had their son, David. Since moving to 
Billings, Burt, and Anita dedicated their time to serving veterans 
across the Treasure State. Burt's dream was to have a national 
veteran's cemetery in Yellowstone County, a land he found fitting as a 
final resting place for our Nation's finest men and women.
  After persuading the county commissioners to join in his efforts, 
legislation was introduced in the Montana Legislature to establish the 
Yellowstone County Veteran's Cemetery, and it was approved. Burt's 
determination was enough to give the veterans of Yellowstone County a 
rightful resting place deserving of their accomplishments. However, 
Burt kept pushing to make it a national cemetery. After nearly a decade 
of convincing the VA, with all the odds stacked against him, his 
efforts were rewarded on Memorial Day in 2014, when the U.S. 
Undersecretary of the VA dedicated the Yellowstone County Veteran's 
Cemetery to national status. Thanks to Burt, Yellowstone National 
Cemetery is now the resting place of our Nation's finest heroes in 
Montana.
  In addition, Burt proudly assisted 750 WWII veterans in visiting 
their national monument here in Washington, D.C. Through these actions 
and more, Burton Ray Gigoux left a lasting legacy and serves as an 
example to us all. May God bless the Gigoux family as they mourn the 
passing of this true hero.
  It is a privilege to recognize his accomplishments and his lifelong 
service to our country in the United States House of Representatives.

                          ____________________