[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 7853]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




      TRIBUTE TO U.S. MARINE LANCE CORPORAL NICKOLAS D. SCHIAVONI

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MARTIN T. MEEHAN

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 10, 2006

  Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a true hero, Marine 
Lance Corporal Nickolas D. Schiavoni, who gave his life in service to 
our country.
  Lance Corporal Schiavoni lived in my district in Haverhill, and was 
deployed with the brave men and women serving in our armed forces as 
part of Operation: Iraqi Freedom. Nickolas died tragically on November 
15, 2005 when a suicide, vehicle-borne, improvised explosive device was 
detonated while he was conducting combat operations against enemy 
forces near Al Karmah, Iraq during Operation Steel Curtain. He was 
twenty-six years old.
  Nickolas leaves behind his beloved wife Gina, and two young children, 
Marissa and Alex. He is also survived by his mother, Stephany Kern, his 
grandfather, David Swartz, and his sister, Vanessa Schiavoni. Nickolas 
treasured his time with his family and was very fond of their time 
together at his mother's home in Westerly, Rhode Island.
  Nickolas served in Iraq with the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 
2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, based in Camp 
Lejeune, N.C. He was serving on his second tour of duty in Iraq when he 
was killed. He was very proud to be a Marine.
  Nickolas' family is proud of him, not just for the supreme sacrifice 
he paid on behalf of his country, but for the honor he brought to them 
as a Marine. He strove to protect his family and his country. His 
courage will not be soon forgotten.
  I have now requested that an American flag be flown over our United 
States Capitol in memory of Lance Corporal Nickolas Schiavoni to honor 
his brave service to our country. This flag will be delivered to his 
family. Nickolas died fighting for the country he loved, alongside 
comrades he respected and with the family he adored, forever in his 
heart. Our nation is humbled and grateful for his sacrifice.
  Mr. Speaker, we should all take a moment to recognize Lance Corporal 
Nickolas D. Schiavoni, United States Marine Corps, who gave his life in 
service to his country.

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