[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 64 (Monday, April 13, 2026)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E316]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING THE LIFE OF ARTHUR J. YOUNGLOVE
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HON. BRIAN K. FITZPATRICK
of pennsylvania
in the house of representatives
Monday, April 13, 2026
Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and celebrate the
incredible life, legacy, and memory of a constituent from my district,
Arthur J. Younglove, who was a cherished father and member of our Bucks
County community. Arthur passed away peacefully on January 20, 2026, at
the age of 86, surrounded by his loving family. His life is a testament
to service, community, and a true dedication to preserving the legacy
of our community.
Born and raised in Bristol, Pennsylvania, on April 2, 1939, Arthur
grew up enamored by the performances of the Bracken Cavaliers, a long-
running American Legion junior drum and bugle corps named for the
Robert W. Bracken American Legion Post 382. He made it his goal early
in his life to join the Cavaliers to bring the same sense of awe and
patriotism to Bucks County and beyond. In 1955, he joined the Bristol
Bracken Cavaliers as a horn player, where he helped contribute to the
numerous honors and accolades the Cavaliers would acquire through their
touring.
After graduating from St. Joseph's Preparatory School, Arthur joined
the U.S. Army in 1961. He served honorably during his enlistment but in
1964, decided not to reenlist and instead return to Bristol. There, he
found that his beloved Cavaliers had been diminished from their heights
during their early years, and so he took it upon himself to become the
corps' director. In his six-year tenure as director, Arthur
successfully recruited around 200 new recruits, instilling in them the
same sense of patriotism and pride that he felt as a young boy. The
Bracken Cavaliers continued their rigorous touring schedule and
returned to their prestige as an award-winning corps, ultimately
winning the Eastern State Championship in 1968.
Arthur finished his time as director in 1970 and began focusing on
his career at Rohm and Haas, where he spent over four decades. He
married Rhonda Barker and had three children with her--Leeann,
Catherine, and James. They traveled the country together, settling in
Willingboro and Delran, New Jersey. Throughout that time, Arthur never
forgot his hometown. His enduring love and passion for the community
that raised him eventually pushed him back to Lower Bucks County in
2017, where he spent his time collecting memorabilia from the heyday of
the Bracken Cavaliers. In 2022, on their 100th Birthday, Arthur helped
to gather any alumni he could for a celebratory performance and the
commemoration of their work with a mural, forever standing as a
testament to the proud group that brought pride to Bristol.
Arthur is survived by his wife, Grace Jones-Younglove; his children,
Leeann, Catherine, and James; as well as his grandchildren, Caroline,
Maura, Briget, Grace, Maeve, Tierney, and Isla. He will also be sadly
missed by his sisters. Helen and Mary, as well as the members of the
Robert W. Bracken American Legion Post 382.
Mr. Speaker, Arthur lived a life full of pride, love, and joy as a
pillar of our community. Lives like that of Arthur Younglove do not
often make national headlines. Yet it is precisely these lives lived in
service to others, rooted in community, and guided by quiet dedication,
that form the backbone of our Nation. May his memory be cherished, and
may we continue to honor his legacy as someone who represented the very
best of America's hometown spirit.
I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring his memory, celebrating
his contributions, and extending our deepest condolences to his family,
friends, and all those whose lives he touched.
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