[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 1]
[House]
[Page 556]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING THE MEMORY OF ZACHARY COOK

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Sherman) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. SHERMAN. I ask unanimous consent that the Chair consider 
recognizing the gentleman from Texas first and then recognize me.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair will do that as a matter of 
recognition.
  Mr. SHERMAN. Thank you.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Texas may proceed for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. EDWARDS of Texas. Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor the memory 
of Zachary Cook, a 22-year-old Army officer and a 2008 graduate of 
Texas A&M University and its Corps of Cadets. Zachary died tragically 
yesterday in an Army helicopter crash on the A&M campus in College 
Station, Texas, in my district during Rudder's Rangers annual winter 
field training. His loss brings a great sadness to his family and 
friends, the extended Texas A&M family, the Army, and to all of us 
deprived of this patriotic citizen who was dedicated to serving our 
great Nation in uniform. Zachary dreamed of flying Army helicopters and 
was thrilled to have received his recent Army commission. He was 
revered as a true friend to others, someone who truly inspired and 
mentored his friends.
  Madam Speaker, I believe the families and loved ones of our 
servicemen and women are truly the unsung heroes and heroines in our 
Nation's defense, and that is why I want to express my regret and 
respect to the family of Mr. Cook. A grateful Nation owes them a deep 
debt of gratitude, and our thoughts and prayers are with them during 
this difficult time. I hope they take comfort in knowing that the 
spirit of service demonstrated by their loved one will touch and 
inspire the lives of others long after we are all gone from this Earth.
  Our thoughts and prayers are also with the four Texas National Guard 
members who were seriously injured in the crash. We pray for their 
speedy recovery.
  We humbly recognize that we can never repay fully Zachary or his 
family for their loss, but I hope that his family will know our Nation 
will never forget their sacrifice.
  May God bless the spirit of Zachary Cook and keep him lovingly in His 
arms.

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