[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 18373]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING PFC TRAVIS CLYDE ZIMMERMAN

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JIM GERLACH

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 14, 2006

  Mr. GERLACH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an American hero, PFC 
Travis Clyde Zimmerman, who died on April 22, 2006 while serving his 
country in Iraq.
  Private First Class Zimmerman was on a combat reconnaissance 
operation when an improvised explosive device exploded near his 
observation post. This young man's high school goal, as stated in his 
yearbook, was to serve in the United States Army. Neighbors, friends, 
and former teachers have all testified that Travis was a courteous, 
cooperative, and compassionate young man. Dr. Harry Morgan, the 
Boyertown School District Superintendent, told students that Travis's 
death ``was a great loss to the family and the community and our 
sympathy goes out to them. We are grateful for his service to our 
county.''
  Travis was a life-long resident of Boyertown, Pennsylvania and is the 
son of Gail Camperson and Lloyd Zimmerman. After Travis's graduation in 
June of 2005, he attended basic training and then joined the Army's 
101st Airborne unit. Travis's unit deployed to Iraq in February 2006.
  Scarlett Kulp, Travis's life-long friend, wanted to make sure that 
the community did not forget the commitment and sacrifice he made to 
serve his country. Scarlett took action and worked with the local 
community to create a memorial fund to honor Private First Class 
Zimmerman and other local military heroes. Local schools took 
Scarlett's lead and held events such as ``Hats Off to Travis Day'' at 
Colebrookdale Elementary School, Travis's elementary school from 
kindergarten to sixth grade. The students and staff at Boyertown Jr. 
High West and the Senior High School held tributes and helped Scarlett 
gather funds for the memorial military bear statue.
  By Memorial Day weekend, Scarlett, with the help of the community, 
had raised enough money to order a six-foot military bear statue and 
create the ``PFC Travis Zimmerman Memorial Fund''. This permanent fund 
will not only provide for the cost of the creation and maintenance of 
the memorial, but it will also help area military personnel as they 
readjust to civilian life upon their return from services overseas.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me today in paying honor 
to a hometown hero, PFC Travis Zimmerman, as his community honors him 
and other service members during the September 17, 2006 Hometown Heroes 
parade and ceremony. Heartiest congratulation, out to all the 
individuals who have helped to make this lasting memorial possible, and 
our utmost gratitude and respect conveyed to Travis's family for his 
unflinching devotion and sacrifice for our nation.

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