[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 7551]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




        HONORING THE LIFE OF CHRISTOPHER JAMES CEPEDA FERNANDEZ

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. MADELEINE Z. BORDALLO

                                of guam

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 22, 2007

  Ms. BORDALLO. Madam Speaker, I rise with heavy heart to mourn with my 
constituency the loss of Guam, Army National Guardsman Specialist 
Christopher James Cepeda Fernandez.
  On March 5, 2007, Specialist Fernandez, a 28-year-old father of one, 
was killed while serving on deployment in support of the Combined Joint 
Task Force in the Horn of Africa. Due to Christopher's patriotism and 
sacrifice to our country, he was posthumously promoted to Sergeant.
  Service men and women from Guam have always been willing and ready to 
answer the call to arms to defend this great Nation, and we--their 
families, friends and neighbors--have always supported them, knowing 
the risk. As people of a small island community, the ties among us are 
very deep.
  Sgt. Chris Fernandez was the son of Joseph Mendiola Fernandez and 
Marie Cepeda Fernandez of the ``Golo'' and ``Chungi'' clans. He was the 
brother of John, Carmela, Stephanie and Michelle Fernandez, and the 
doting father of six-year-old Kaenani Lei Guyal Fernandez, whom he 
adored. According to his family, Chris loved to take Kaenani to the 
movies, shopping--almost everywhere she wanted to go. He made the most 
of the time he could spend with her.
  When not with Kaenani, Chris enjoyed playing basketball and baseball, 
among other sports. He also liked fishing, drag-racing, and barbequing 
with friends. He attended John F. Kennedy High School and graduated 
from Guam Community College. Madam Speaker, I offer these bits of 
personal information because Sergeant Christopher James Cepeda 
Fernandez deserves to be remembered as more than a name on a casualty 
list. He was a son of Guam, a proud soldier, willing and prepared to 
defend his country and his home island, no matter what the price. And 
he paid that price.
  Christopher James Cepeda Fernandez lost his life in the noble effort 
to rebuild a nation in freedom so that others might some day know the 
joys of liberty and justice.
  With heavy but proud hearts, I extend heartfelt condolences and 
profound sympathy to Chris's family on behalf of the People of Guam and 
a grateful Nation. Chris was a caring son, a loving brother and friend, 
a devoted father, and a proud American patriot.

                          ____________________