[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 19]
[House]
[Page 25646]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




          HONORING THE AMERICAN FALLEN IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Emanuel) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, Veterans Day marks the 87th anniversary of 
the armistice ending World War I. On this date we honor the soldiers, 
sailors, marines, and aviators who have protected the United States in 
times of war.
  Today, we are again a Nation at war; 2,058 American military 
personnel have now given their lives fighting in Iraq; 247 Americans 
have fallen in Afghanistan.
  This Veterans Day we must honor those who have served, those who have 
been wounded, and those who have fallen.
  For this reason, I have introduced a resolution, with 73 cosponsors, 
honoring each of the fallen from Iraq and Afghanistan by name.
  I have also led a bipartisan group of 21 Members of Congress in 
reading the names of the fallen into the Congressional Record. Tonight, 
we continue this tribute with the names of the most recently fallen, 
completing all 2,300.
  God bless each of the brave Americans, men and women, whose memory we 
honor tonight; and their families are in our prayers.
  Sergeant Eric A. Fifer, Private 1st Class Nicholas J. Greer, Lance 
Corporal Sergio H. Escobar, Staff Sergeant Gary R. Harper Jr., Staff 
Sergeant Jerry L. Bonifacio Jr., Specialist Jeremy M. Hodge, Lieutenant 
Colonel Leon G. James II, Sergeant Leon M. Johnson, Sergeant 1st Class 
Brandon K. Sneed, Staff Sergeant Matthew A. Kimmell, Sergeant Donald D. 
Furman, Specialist James T. Grijalva, Master Sergeant Kenneth E. Hunt, 
Jr., Sergeant Lorenzo Ponce Ruiz, Petty Officer 1st Class Howard E. 
Babcock IV, Specialist Robert W. Tucker, Specialist Samuel M. Boswell, 
Specialist Bernard L. Ceo, Sergeant Brian R. Conner, Sergeant Mark P. 
Adams, Specialist Thomas H. Byrd, Specialist Jeffrey W. Corban, 
Specialist Richard Allen Hardy, Staff Sergeant Vincent E. Summers, 
Specialist Timothy D. Watkins, Lance Corporal Daniel Scott R. Bubb, 
Lance Corporal Chad R. Hildebrandt, Chief Warrant Officer Paul J. 
Pillen, Lance Corporal Christopher M. Poston, Specialist Lucas A. 
Frantz, Lance Corporal Norman W. Anderson III, Specialist Daniel D. 
Bartels, Staff Sergeant Tommy Ike Folks, Jr., Specialist Kendall K. 
Frederick, Sergeant Arthur A. Mora, Jr., Specialist Russell H. Nahvi, 
Specialist Jose E. Rosario, Sergeant Jacob D. Dones, Staff Sergeant 
Dennis P. Merck, Staff Sergeant Richard T. Pummill, Lance Corporal 
Andrew D. Russoli, Lance Corporal Steven W. Szwydek, Lance Corporal 
Kenneth J. Butler, Corporal Benny Gray Cockerham III, Corporal Seamus 
M. Davey, Captain Tyler B. Swisher, Petty Officer 3rd Class Christopher 
W. Thompson, Staff Sergeant George T. Alexander, Jr., Lance Corporal 
Jonathan R. Spears, Corporal Benjamin D. Hoeffner, Specialist 
Christopher T. Monroe, Sergeant Michael T. Robertson, Sergeant 1st 
Class Ramon A. Acevedoaponte, Staff Sergeant Lewis J. Gentry, Sergeant 
Evan S. Parker, Master Sergeant Thomas A. Wallsmith, Sergeant James 
Witkowski, Lance Corporal Robert F. Eckfield, Jr., Lance Corporal Jared 
J. Kremm, Staff Sergeant Daniel R. Lightner, Jr., Captain Michael J. 
Mackinnon, Colonel William W. Wood, 1st Lieutenant Debra A. Banaszak, 
Private 1st Class Dillon M. Jutras, Sergeant Shaker T. Guy, Captain 
Raymond D. Hill II, Staff Sergeant Travis W. Nixon, Private 1st Class 
Kenny D. Rojas, Staff Sergeant Joel P. Dameron, Sergeant Michael Paul 
Hodshire, Specialist William J. Byler, Specialist Derence W. Jack, 
Private Adam R. ``A.J.'' Johnson, Sergeant 1st Class Matthew R. Kading, 
Staff Sergeant Wilgene T. Lieto.
  Mr. Speaker, Veterans Day is Friday. Let us remember each of these 
fallen heroes and all who came before them. In the words of President 
Franklin Delano Roosevelt: ``Each of these heroes stands in the 
unbroken line of patriots who have dared to die that freedom might live 
and grow and increase in its blessings.''
  Let us also remember the brave men and women who continue to serve 
our Nation with distinction in Iraq, Afghanistan, and throughout the 
world. Our thoughts and prayers and gratitude are with you and your 
families at this time until you return home safely to your fellow man 
and woman, citizens of this country.
  This Friday we will remember the 2,058 military personnel who have 
fallen in Iraq and the 247 Americans who have fallen in Afghanistan.

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