[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 87 (Thursday, May 21, 2026)]
[House]
[Pages H3681-H3682]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING OUR VETERANS

  (Ms. Stansbury of New Mexico was recognized to address the House for 
5 minutes.)
  Ms. STANSBURY. Mr. Speaker, on Memorial Day, we pause to honor the 
brave Americans who gave their lives in service to this Nation, those 
who wore the uniform knowing that freedom and liberty always carry a 
cost.
  Today, I rise in remembrance of the fallen from my home State of New 
Mexico, a State with a proud military tradition, where generations of 
servicemembers have answered the call to serve from communities large 
and small, from Tribal communities, rural towns, land grants, and our 
great military installations.
  In New Mexico, military service is woven into the fabric of our 
communities and the identities of our families. Families sacrifice 
together. Spouses hold households together through deployments. 
Children grow up learning resilience and service. Veterans continue 
serving long after they have hung up the uniform.
  On Memorial Day, we remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
  This year, we are also mourning the 13 American servicemembers killed 
during the Iran war, Americans who stood in harm's way on behalf of 
this country and paid the ultimate sacrifice.
  We remember: Captain Cody Khork, Sergeant First Class Noah Tietjens, 
Sergeant First Class Nicole Amor, Sergeant Declan Coady, Major Jeffrey 
O'Brien, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert Marzan, Sergeant Benjamin 
Pennington, Major John Klinner, Captain Ariana Savino, Technical 
Sergeant Ashley Pruitt, Captain Seth Koval, Captain Curtis Angst, and 
Technical Sergeant Tyler Simmons.
  We honor these brave men and women. They were sons and daughters, 
husbands and wives, friends, neighbors, teammates, and leaders.
  Behind every fallen servicemember stands a family whose life will be 
forever changed.
  To the Gold Star families in New Mexico and across this Nation: We 
see you. We honor you. We carry a solemn responsibility to remember 
your loved ones not just on Memorial Day but every single day.
  Memorial Day is a sacred reminder of the human cost of war and the 
extraordinary courage of those willing to defend this Nation even at 
the highest cost.
  As we honor the fallen, we also recommit ourselves to supporting our 
veterans and military families who continue carrying the burdens of 
service today. That means ensuring veterans can access care through a 
strong VA system. It means supporting our military families who endure 
repeated deployments and long separations. It means investing in the 
servicemembers who are stationed today in places like Kirtland Air 
Force Base in my district. It means never forgetting the debt this 
Nation owes to those who have served.
  This Memorial Day, may we honor the fallen not just with words but 
with action worthy of their sacrifice.
  May we remember them, may we honor them, and may we strive every 
single day to build a nation truly worthy of what they gave for us. 
Amen.

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