[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 13]
[House]
[Page 17314]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      HONORING AUGUST PROVOST III

  (Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mourn and to 
salute August Provost III, a seaman at Camp Pendleton in California and 
to recognize the tragic way in which he lost his life in the line of 
duty. August Provost III was a young man, a constituent of the 18th 
Congressional District and coming from the famous Acres Home community. 
It was only a few days ago that his mother received the terrible news 
that he was shot dead on the base of Camp Pendleton, shot in the chest, 
shot in the back of the head and his body burned.
  We cannot seem to find any definite information, Mr. Speaker. The 
allegation is that this is a hate crime. The reason why I rise today is 
that he will be funeralized tomorrow as a hero. We, as an American 
people, must stand against hateful acts on the basis of someone's 
difference. And to the United States military, for which I hold in the 
greatest respect, there must be a thorough, in-depth, full and broad 
investigation, not a cover-up, to find out why this valiant, young 
African American died on this military base in his uniform by being 
shot by an alleged fellow sailor.
  The uniform of the United States military must be what it is, 
upstanding and respectful. And we cannot tolerate violence against 
fellow military personnel because of difference and should not exist in 
the United States of America military.
  I mourn with the family. I pay tribute to him as he is laid to rest 
as an American hero. He will be forever an American hero in our hearts 
and in this Nation.
  August, we thank you for your service. God bless you, and God bless 
the family.

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