[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 94 (Wednesday, June 3, 2026)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E521]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        HONORING THE SERVICE AND MEMORY OF MAJOR ANDREW D. BYERS

                                 ______
                                 

                      HON. NICHOLAS A. LANGWORTHY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 3, 2026

  Mr. LANGWORTHY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life and service of 
Major Andrew D. Byers--a son of Clarence, New York, an American hero, 
and one of our Nation's very best. Major Byers embodied the values that 
define our greatest servicemen and women: courage, humility, 
leadership, and selfless devotion to others. From the halls of West 
Point to the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan, he answered the call 
to serve with honor. On November 3, 2016, while supporting Afghan 
allies during combat operations in Kunduz Province, Major Byers gave 
his life protecting those beside him and leading his men to safety 
under enemy fire. His valor that day reflected the extraordinary 
character he carried throughout his entire life.
  Serving as Green Beret officer, Major Byers was entrusted with some 
of America's most difficult missions. His life stands as a reminder 
that true heroism is not measured only by medals or rank, but by a 
willingness to place the lives of others before your own. The story of 
Major Byers is one of extraordinary sacrifice, but also one of 
unwavering patriotism and commitment to the Nation he swore to defend.
  The Clarence community will gather to dedicate a portion of Sheridan 
Drive in his honor, ensuring that Major Andrew Byers' legacy will 
forever remain a visible part of the community he called home. Long 
after today, families driving that road, young people growing up in 
Clarence, and future generations of Americans will see his name and 
remember the price of freedom. It is fitting that his memory will stand 
alongside the Clarence Veterans Memorial and the countless tributes 
offered by a grateful community determined never to forget one of its 
fallen heroes.
  For Memorial Day, we are reminded that our respect is not confined to 
a single day. For Gold Star families across this Nation, remembrance 
lives every single day--in the empty chair at the dinner table, in the 
folded flag displayed at home, in birthdays celebrated without a loved 
one present, and in the quiet moments where sacrifice is felt most 
deeply.
  Memorial Day calls on all of us to pause and remember our Nation's 
greatest sons and daughters, those who gave everything so that we may 
live in freedom. Major Andrew Byers was one of those men. May we honor 
his sacrifice not only with words, but with lives worthy of the freedom 
he helped defend.

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