[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 87 (Thursday, May 21, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2436-S2437]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
MEMORIAL DAY
Mr. TUBERVILLE. Mr. President, you know even the most hotly debated
issues in this building pale in comparison to the American soldiers who
have sacrificed their lives to give us the freedoms to debate and
disagree in the first place.
Later this year, America will celebrate its 250th birthday. Most
democracies, they don't even come close to that. They don't survive
that long, but our great country has survived because of the brave men
and women who have answered the call to defend our freedoms at home and
all across the world.
Sadly, some of our Nation's heroes never return home. Alabama has
numerous memorials across our great
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State to honor our own fallen heroes. The USS ALABAMA Battleship
Memorial Park in Mobile, AL, hosts more than 400,000 visitors annually
where they learn more about our military and those that served.
The city of Trussville, AL, is home to the Fallen Warrior Monument
which honors Alabama servicemembers killed since 9/11, and Huntsville
is home to one of the largest Memorial Day parades in the country.
These landmarks and events help tell stories of daughters, sons,
husbands, wives, mothers, and fathers who answered the call to defend
our country at home and abroad not knowing what their future might
hold. You know, stories of mothers who hug their children and husbands
who kiss their wives without knowing if it was their last time.
Next week, we recognize Memorial Day. Many will use this as an
opportunity to grill out and go to the beach, but this isn't just
another day off or another long weekend. It is a day to honor these
fallen heroes and reflect on their sacrifice.
Today, I would like to recognize two fallen heroes from my State of
Alabama: Alex Klinner of Auburn and Jeffrey Hall of Huntsville, along
with their families.
Honoring Alex Klinner
Mr. President, earlier this year, we lost six servicemembers in a
refueling mission, including three members of the 99th Air Refueling
Squadron based at Sumpter Smith Joint National Guard Base in
Birmingham, AL. Among those were this young man 33-year-old Auburn
native Alex Klinner.
Alex joined the Air Force in 2017 through the Air Force Reserve
Officer Training Corps from Auburn University after graduating from
Auburn in 2016 with a degree in mechanical engineering. He deployed
four different times in just 7 years, logging more than 563 hours in
combat zones or support roles.
But as impressive as his pilot skills were, Alex's brother-in-law
James said that he shone the brightest in his role as a husband to his
wife Libby and a father to his three young children.
Alabama continues to mourn the loss of a hero gone way too soon. But
Alex's legacy of faith, family, and freedom will continue to live on.
Honoring Jeffrey Hall
Mr. President, SSG Jeffrey Hall of Huntsville is another Alabama
soldier whose life was cut short in service to our country at the young
age of 28. Jeffrey's mom Annette said that he was destined to serve in
the military. She recalls him as an energetic and headstrong child and
a wonderful big brother to his sister Emily.
Jeffrey started showing an interest in being a soldier when he was
only 3 years old. He was fascinated with army uniforms and always
wanted to dress up as a soldier.
Annette and her husband Charles encouraged Jeffrey's dreams. She said
they must have bought out every army surplus store in North Alabama to
give Jeffrey whatever military gear that he could find to use and to
wear.
As soon as Jeffrey graduated from Huntsville Christian Academy in
2000, he set out to make these childhood dreams a true reality. After
Jeffrey made a great soldier, he became a jumpmaster, a pathfinder, and
a sharpshooter receiving numerous awards for his accomplishments,
including Army Commendation Medals, two Army Achievement Medals, and
the Combat Infantryman Badge.
He had just re-signed for another 4 years in the military when his
vehicle hit an IED in Afghanistan on June 1, 2009, the day before his
second wedding anniversary with his wife Allison. Jeffrey experienced
the joys of fatherhood for only 6 months to his daughter Audrey Faith
before he deployed. She was only a year old when he was killed.
Annette decided to honor her son's sacrifice by starting an American
Gold Star Mothers chapter. This chapter connects and supports more than
40 mothers across 18 counties in North Alabama and the Tennessee
Valley. They also raise awareness for the sacrifices made by Gold Star
families, including with a float in Huntsville's Memorial Day parade
each year.
Annette repeatedly says it is a joy to speak of her son because she
never wants to forget the life he lived or the sacrifices he made for
his country. Her and Charles are heroes for raising their son to love
this country and continuing to carry on the same sense of patriotism
even after Jeffrey's untimely death.
Memorial Day
Mr. President, John 13:15 says:
Greater love has no one than this: [than] to lay down one's
life for [his] friends.
Alex Klinner and Jeffrey Hall both know the danger and knew the
danger involved with their mission, and they did it anyway. They left
the safety of their homes so we could sleep safely in ours. They were
fathers, sons, husbands, brothers, and friends; but to us, they are
American heroes.
We owe them our full gratitude. We also owe our gratitude to the
Klinner and the Hall families. The loss they have to live with every
day is unthinkable. We continue to hold them in our prayers this
Memorial Day and Memorial Day weekend.
As Memorial Day approaches, I hope we will take the time to honor
Americans fallen along with all of our brave Gold Star families around
the world.
I yield the floor.
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Moreno). The Senator from Alabama.
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