[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 23]
[Senate]
[Page 31263]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING THE ARMED FORCES


                   sergeant major cornell w. gilmore

  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I seek recognition to honor a Virginia 
Soldier, Sergeant Major Cornell W. Gilmore, who was tragically killed 
in action in Iraq on Friday, November 7th, 2003. I want to express 
gratitude, on behalf of the Senate, for his service to our Nation. The 
American people, I am certain, join me in expressing their prayers and 
compassion to his family.
  As the Sergeant Major of the Army's Judge Advocate General Corps, he 
served as the primary adviser to the judge advocate general on all 
matters concerning the health and welfare of all the enlisted soldiers 
within that command. A heavy responsibility that he bore freely and he 
served with great effect. He accompanied his commanding general, Major 
General Thomas J. Romig, to Iraq to ensure the soldiers legal needs 
were being met while away from home. Major General Romig stated that he 
was ``one of the most dynamic leaders I ever met.''
  Sergeant Major Gilmore leaves behind his wife, Donna; his daughter, 
Dawnita; his son, Cornell, Jr.; his father William; and his mother, 
Louise.
  Sergeant Major Gilmore was both an exceptional soldier and a caring 
citizen, giving his time freely to community and his church. At every 
post throughout his career he has been a mentor to many through his 
love of God and music, most recently serving as the music minister at 
the Shilo Christian Church in Stafford, VA. The local media reported 
that 100 former pupils served in the choir during his funeral service 
with more than 1300 mourners present.
  His family members are brave Americans who have sacrificed so much 
for this Nation. We owe them and the other families who have lost their 
loved ones a debt of gratitude. Sergeant Major Gilmore was an 
exceptional man with a bright future and family in front of him. His 
wife stated, ``he lived and died doing what he loved best--being with 
soldiers.'' I cannot craft a finer eulogy, the Commonwealth of Virginia 
and the entire Nation shall mourn his loss.

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