[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 7]
[House]
[Pages 9651-9653]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




        SERGEANT DENNIS J. FLANAGAN LECANTO POST OFFICE BUILDING

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the bill (H.R. 1402) to designate the facility of the United 
States Postal Service located at 320 South Lecanto Highway in Lecanto, 
Florida, as the ``Sergeant Dennis J. Flanagan Lecanto Post Office 
Building''.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                               H.R. 1402

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SERGEANT DENNIS J. FLANAGAN LECANTO POST OFFICE 
                   BUILDING.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 320 South Lecanto Highway in Lecanto, 
     Florida, shall be known and designated as the ``Sergeant 
     Dennis J. Flanagan Lecanto Post Office Building''.
       (b) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation, 
     document, paper, or other record of the United States to the 
     facility referred to in subsection (a) shall be deemed to be 
     a reference to the ``Sergeant Dennis J. Flanagan Lecanto Post 
     Office Building''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Davis) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Issa) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois.

                              {time}  1430


                             General Leave

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend 
their remarks.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Illinois?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  On September 11, 2001, America was forever changed. The rancid acts 
of terrorism that occurred on this day struck a chord within the 
people. For one moment in time we were not a hyphenated people. We were 
not Irish-

[[Page 9652]]

American, African-American, Asian-American, Greek-American. We were 
simply American.
  It was with a resounding spirit of patriotism that Dennis J. Flanagan 
went to his local recruitment station and took the vow to serve his 
country. As the President waged war against our terrorist adversaries, 
Sergeant Flanagan took his place as a member of the air assault 
infantry that invaded Iraq in 2003. He returned to Iraq in September 
for his second tour of duty and was killed when his vehicle was struck 
by a roadside bomb in Hawijah, Iraq, on January 19, 2006.
  Madam Speaker, I offer my condolences to the family of Sergeant 
Flanagan and hope that my colleagues will vote in the affirmative to 
pass this measure that will allow the Lecanto, Florida, post office to 
bear the name of Sergeant Dennis James Flanagan.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of our time.
  Mr. ISSA. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I join with my colleague in supporting this naming of the Sergeant 
Dennis J. Flanagan Post Office.
  Sergeant Flanagan grew up in Florida and attended high school there. 
He was active and enjoyed sports. He ran cross-country, played soccer, 
and was a cadet commander at the school's Civil Air Patrol squadron. He 
loved learning about American history and hoped that one day he would 
be a history professor.
  His commitment to military service began at an early age. He was an 
active member of the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps, or Junior 
ROTC, where he achieved the rank of first lieutenant during his junior 
year of high school. He began classes in Central Florida Community 
College, but enlisted in the Army a week after September 11.
  Sergeant Flanagan was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry 
Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team of the 101st Airborne Division out of 
Fort Campbell, Kentucky. He fought with the air assault infantry that 
led the initial attack in 2003.
  Wise beyond his years, he understood that victory could not be 
attained without action. He knew the dangers of war and believed in 
serving his country. After completing his first tour of duty, he re-
enlisted in September of 2005 for a second tour. As an experienced 
soldier, he hoped he could act as a mentor for new soldiers, and he 
wanted to train the Iraqi Army recruits.
  On January 20, 2006, Sergeant Flanagan was on patrol in Iraq in his 
Humvee with three other U.S. soldiers and a driver when a roadside 
bomb, or an IED, was exploded near their vehicle. All soldiers were 
wearing protective body armor. However, only the driver survived the 
blast. Sergeant Flanagan was only 22 when he died.
  Today we honor the life of Sergeant Flanagan, a soldier who strongly 
believed in the fight for freedom. He was an American hero.
  Madam Speaker, I ask all Members to join with me in supporting this 
naming and this bill.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. ISSA. Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlelady from 
Florida (Ms. Ginny Brown-Waite).
  Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today in 
support of the bill, H.R. 1402, the Sergeant Dennis J. Flanagan Lecanto 
Post Office Building piece of legislation. It will rename the South 
Lecanto Highway Post Office in Lecanto, Florida, after Army Sergeant 
Flanagan, who was killed by terrorist insurgents in 2006 while on 
patrol in Iraq.
  I actually attended the services out at Arlington Cemetery. I was 
with the family. I also attended the service for the young man that was 
held in Citrus County.
  In my district office, I have a photograph that his mom gave me that 
was taken at the service. And it appears as if there is this rainbow 
over the marker. It is truly a tribute to this 2001 graduate of Lecanto 
High School because Sergeant Flanagan was an active member of the 
Junior ROTC, and he achieved the rank of lieutenant in his first year.
  Within a week following the attacks of September 11, 2001, on our 
country, he enlisted in the Army and began his first tour of duty in 
Iraq. Sergeant Flanagan then re-enlisted for a second tour in Iraq in 
September of 2005. Tragically, he was killed, along with three other 
U.S. soldiers, when an IED hit a Humvee in which he was traveling. Only 
the Humvee driver survived the incident.
  Sergeant Flanagan was a soldier who firmly believed in our mission in 
Iraq and in advancing the cause of freedom. Even as a young boy, his 
parents told me that Dennis knew he wanted to be a soldier in the U.S. 
Armed Forces.
  A soldier who felt he must defend and fight for freedom, Sergeant 
Flanagan received glowing recommendations from his superior officers 
and from fellow officers. One of the principal reasons that he re-
enlisted was to act as a mentor to newly enlisted soldiers and to help 
train Iraqi Army recruits.
  Speaking of his future as a soldier and a patriot, Sergeant Flanagan 
once mused in a poem that he was going to save for his son, and those 
words read: ``And now, my son, I pray to thee, never ever forget me; 
that I died a soldier's death to keep you free with my last breath.''
  His mom shared those words with me, and I think it is appropriate 
that they be in the Congressional Record.
  In times when children and families need role models to look up to, 
Sergeant Flanagan was a true American hero. Our community, certainly 
Citrus County and all of Florida, mourn his loss.
  We hope that in renaming this post office we will memorialize this 
brave young man, Sergeant Dennis Flanagan, and never, ever forget his 
sacrifice for our Nation.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  I simply want to commend the gentlewoman from Florida for introducing 
this resolution, which speaks directly to the greatest gift that one 
can give, and that is to give his or her life for the benefit of their 
fellow man and woman.
  A young man, who had no concern, really, for himself, but was 
concerned for the country.
  I urge passage of this resolution.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ISSA. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, we have no further speakers here today on this fine 
young gentleman. But, in closing, I can think of no more appropriate 
statement on the United States Armed Forces than to have a gentleman 
with a classic Irish name from Florida be honored on the same day for 
another post office as a gentleman born in Mexico, growing up in 
California, whose father was a day laborer. I think that speaks volumes 
about the kinds of men and women who are defending our country, not 
questioning anything except that their country asked for them and they 
have followed and, unfortunately, two have fallen.
  I urge passage of both of these pieces of legislation. I thank the 
majority for moving them in an expeditious fashion.
  Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today in 
support of my bill, H.R. 1402, the Sergeant Dennis J. Flanagan Lecanto 
Post Office Building.
  H.R. 1402 will rename the South Lecanto Highway post office in 
Lecanto, FL, after Army Sergeant Flanagan, who was killed by terrorist 
insurgents in 2006 while on patrol in Iraq.
  A 2001 graduate of Lecanto High School, Sergeant Flanagan was an 
active member of the Junior ROTC, achieving the rank of First 
Lieutenant his junior year.
  Within a week following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, 
he enlisted in the Army and began his first tour of duty in Iraq in 
2003. Sergeant Flanagan then re-enlisted for a second tour in Iraq in 
September of 2005.
  Tragically, he was killed January 20, 2006, along with 3 other U.S. 
soldiers when an lED hit a Humvee in which he was traveling. Only the 
Humvee driver survived the incident.
  Sgt. Flanagan was a soldier who firmly believed in our mission in 
Iraq and in advancing the cause of freedom. As a young boy, Sgt. 
Flanagan knew that he wanted to be a soldier in the U.S. Armed Forces. 
A soldier who felt we must defend America and fight for freedom, Sgt. 
Flanagan received glowing recommendations from his superior officers 
and

[[Page 9653]]

fellow soldiers. One of the principle reasons that he re-enlisted was 
to act as a mentor to the newly enlisted soldiers and to help train 
Iraqi army recruits.
  Speaking of his future as a soldier and a patriot, Sgt. Flanagan once 
wrote a poem that included the words, ``And now, my son, I pray to 
thee. Never ever forget me; that I died a soldier's death, to keep you 
free with my last breath.''
  In times when children and families need role models to look up to 
and emulate, Sergeant Flanagan was a true American hero. Our community 
feels his loss immensely.
  I hope that in renaming this post office, we will memorialize 
Sergeant Flanagan's courage and never forget his sacrifice for this 
great Nation.
  Mr. ISSA. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. We have no further speakers, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 1402.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and 
nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this question will 
be postponed.

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