[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 89 (Wednesday, May 22, 2024)]
[House]
[Page H3412]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        CELEBRATING MEMORIAL DAY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I rise today to 
recognize Memorial Day. Our Nation's greatness was earned by the 
sacrifices of a few so that freedom and liberty would come to all. This 
weekend, we remember their sacrifices and service.
  We are very proud that the tradition of Memorial Day originated in a 
Pennsylvania community located in my district, Boalsburg, Pennsylvania.
  Dating back to 1864 in Boalsburg, Pennsylvania, the birthplace of 
Memorial Day, three ladies decorated the graves of fallen Civil War 
soldiers. They met in the graveyard and promised to come back the 
following year to do the same thing. From that simple beginning act of 
love and remembrance came the observance of Memorial Day.
  Now, every year, on the last Monday of May, the people across this 
Nation gather in town squares, at memorials, and in the cemeteries of 
fallen heroes to pay tribute to those who gave their all. This includes 
our servicemembers who are missing in action or are prisoners of war.
  According to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, more than 80,000 
American citizens who served in the Vietnam war, Korean war, and World 
War II are still missing in action.
  That is why I am proud to have introduced H. Con. Res. 64, which 
urges our mutually beneficial trade agreements to include a commitment 
from trading partners to continue search and recovery efforts of our 
Nation's missing servicemembers.
  In August 2023, I was notified by the POW/MIA Accounting Agency that 
two MIAs from my district were identified and returning home. Army 
Corporal Francis James Jury of Clearfield, Pennsylvania, and Army 
Sergeant Richard M. Sharrow of Marienville, Pennsylvania, were deemed 
missing in action during the Korean war. Thanks to the hard work and 
dedication of the POW/MIA Accounting Agency, these two heroes were able 
to be returned home and receive the proper burial that they deserved.
  This Nation is united by our liberties and freedoms that our men and 
women in uniform take an oath to protect and defend. We will always 
honor our brothers and sisters who fought in battle to uphold our way 
of life.
  May God carry them in the palm of His hand and all of our 
servicemembers in the palm of His hand.
  This Memorial Day, as we raise the Stars and Stripes, as we lay 
wreaths at monuments, memorials, and cemeteries, let us remember that 
our freedom is thanks to those who served and died in sacrifice.

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