[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 10]
[House]
[Pages 14114-14115]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    BILL DESIGNATING POST OFFICE AFTER FRANCISCO A. MARTINEZ FLORES

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Solis) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. SOLIS. Madam Speaker, today I rise to introduce a bill 
designating a post office after Francisco Martinez Flores, a courageous 
and dedicated Marine from the city of Duarte in California in my 
congressional district.
  Lance Corporal Francisco Martinez Flores demonstrated his courage and 
his love of our country when he lost his life serving in Operation 
Iraqi Freedom just 2 weeks before gaining his U.S. citizenship. I take 
this opportunity not only to pay tribute to Lance Corporal Martinez 
Flores as a brave and self-sacrificing Marine, but also to remember him 
as a loving son, brother, a friend to those living in California's 32nd 
Congressional District.
  Known affectionately by his friends and family as ``Panchito'', Lance 
Corporal Martinez grew up in the city of Duarte, having emigrated with 
his family at the age of 3 from Mexico. He attended Duarte High School, 
where he displayed both his artistic and athletic talents by 
participating in the high school football team and jazz band.
  After graduating from high school in June of 2000, Francisco enlisted 
in the Marines and was assigned to the First Marine Division Marine 
Corps Air Ground-Combat Center at Twenty-nine Palms in California. On 
January 23, 2003, Lance Corporal Martinez Flores was sent abroad to 
fight in Operation Iraqi Freedom. While only 2 weeks shy of gaining his 
U.S. citizenship, he was killed in the line of duty near Nasiriyah, 
Iraq, on March 25, 2003.
  After his death, Lance Corporal Martinez Flores was granted 
posthumous U.S. citizenship on April 6, 2003. He was one of those 
thousands of lawful permanent residents who volunteered their service 
to protect the United States by joining the U.S. military.
  Lance Corporal Martinez Flores was a strong, noble, valiant man who 
lost his life to ensure the loved ones he left behind could live in a 
safer and more secure world. His mother, Martha, stated, ``He loved the 
United States so much. He was from Mexico, but he was fighting for 
America and its ideals.''
  My heart and my prayers go out to the family and friends of Lance 
Corporal Martinez Flores, as well as to all those who have lost their 
loved ones during these turbulent times. The mayor and city council of 
the city of Duarte have also expressed their support for naming the 
post office located at 1210 Highland Avenue in Duarte, California, 
after Francisco A. Martinez Flores.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing the American ideals of

[[Page 14115]]

hero Lance Corporal Francisco Martinez Flores, who fought for and 
defended the spirit that we embody here in this House.
  I also want to provide attention to his family, because his family is 
a working-class family. They work very hard to put food on their table, 
and I could see where they are going to need a lot of comfort and help 
and support by this Federal Government. I hope, too, that by the end of 
the week we also can pay them with the child tax credit that they would 
need that they would not be eligible for at this time.
  So I would ask Members to remember a soldier who gave his life, a 
soldier who represents a working-class family who dedicated himself to 
the freedoms that we have. Let us not forget our men and women who 
serve us and those that are giving their lives as we stand here 
tonight.

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