[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 20]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 27170]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING THE TEXAS MARINES MEDAL OF HONOR MONUMENT IN THE WOODLANDS, 
                                 TEXAS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. KEVIN BRADY

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, November 6, 2009

  Mr. BRADY of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the Texas 
Marines Medal of Honor Monument in The Woodlands, Texas. Marines Thomas 
R. Early, Burt Cabanas, Jim O'Connor and Bill Leigh were instrumental 
in bringing the monument to The Woodlands. It is truly inspirational to 
know that this monument is now in existence due to the determination of 
these local Marines who brainstormed this one of a kind monument as a 
fitting tribute to all Texas Marines.
  The monument was dedicated on May 25, 2007, at Town Green Park to pay 
tribute to seventeen Texans awarded the Medal of Honor, the highest 
military decoration awarded by the United States government. It stands 
to pay reverence to these men including five Marines from World War II, 
four Marines and one Navy Corpsman from the Korean War, and seven 
Marines from the Vietnam War.
  One can hardly pass the Texas Marines Medal of Honor Monument without 
feeling an overwhelming sense of appreciation for the sacrifice of 
these brave patriots as you stand before the monument and read the 
seventeen names engraved in gold.
  The Marines honored are as follows:
  SSGT William James Bordelon, 22, San Antonio; PFC Charles Howard 
Roan, 21, Claude; 1st LT Jack Lummus, 29, Ennis; SGT William George 
Harrell, 22, Rio Grande City; 1st LT William Deane Hawkins, 29, El 
Paso; 1st LT Frank Nicias Mitchell, 29, Indian Gap; SSGT Ambrosio 
Guillen, 23, El Paso; PFC Whitt Lloyd Moreland, 21, Waco; 2nd LT George 
Herman O'Brien, Jr., 26, Fort Worth; Hospitalman John Edward Kilmer, 
21, Houston; PFC Alfred Mac Wilson, 21, Abilene; LCPL Thomas Elbert 
Creek, 18, Amarillo; SGT Alfredo (Freddy) Gonzalez, 21, Edinburg; LCPL 
Richard Allen Anderson, 21, Houston; PFC Oscar Palmer Austin, 21, 
Nacogdoches; 2nd LT Terrence Collinson Graves, 22, Corpus Christi; LCPL 
Miguel Keith, 18, San Antonio
  On top of this monument stands a sculpture of the Marine Corps 
official emblem--the eagle, globe and anchor. The eagle with spread 
wings resting on top of the world reminds us what our Marines do for 
us--they protect us at all costs.
  I hope that as families use Town Green Park in the future, they look 
upon the monument with pride and honor these brave soldiers by 
reflecting on all those serving in our Armed Forces. Parents will 
impress upon their children the great honor bestowed on these great 
individuals from the Lone Star State and tell them how admirable it is 
that these men have sacrificed much to allow us all to freely walk, 
worship and live in America.
  Madam Speaker, it is an honor to recognize the Texas Marines Medal of 
Honor Monument in the U.S. House of Representatives. I urge you to join 
me in remembering these seventeen Texans who received the Medal of 
Honor as well as all of our Marines and other servicemen and 
servicewomen for the sacrifices they have made for the people of the 
United States of America.

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