[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 2]
[House]
[Pages 2890-2891]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1615
                 SPC NICHOLAS SCOTT HARTGE POST OFFICE

  Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 4624) to designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 125 Kerr Avenue in Rome City, Indiana, as the ``SPC 
Nicholas Scott Hartge Post Office''.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 4624

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

     SECTION 1. SPC NICHOLAS SCOTT HARTGE POST OFFICE.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 125 Kerr Avenue in Rome City, Indiana, 
     shall be known and designated as the ``SPC Nicholas Scott 
     Hartge Post Office''.
       (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 ``SPC Nicholas Scott Hartge Post Office''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Missouri (Mr. Clay) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Garrett) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Missouri.


                             General Leave

  Mr. CLAY. Mr. 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 Missouri?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. CLAY. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise in support of H.R. 4624. This legislation will designate the 
facility of the U.S. Postal Service located at 125 Kerr Avenue in Rome 
City, Indiana, as the ``SPC Nicholas Scott Hartge Post Office.'' Army 
Specialist Nicholas Hartge was raised in the small town of Rome City, 
in northeastern Indiana. After the terrorist attacks of September 11, 
2001, Specialist Hartge enlisted in the infantry while still in high 
school and was stationed in Germany before deploying to Iraq.
  On May 14, 2007, Specialist Hartge's patrol came under heavy attack. 
He was killed in combat when his Humvee hit a roadside bomb while 
maneuvering under intense fire.
  For his service to his country, Specialist Hartge received a 
Commendation Medal for outstanding achievement for helping to capture 
the enemy in Iraq, and a Bronze Star for his actions on the day he was 
killed. He is missed by his family, his community, and his country. Our 
Nation owes a great debt of gratitude for his service.
  H.R. 4624 was introduced by the gentleman from Indiana, 
Representative Mark Souder, on February 9, 2010. The measure was 
referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, which 
approved it by unanimous consent on March 4, 2010. The measure enjoys 
the support of the entire Indiana delegation.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GARRETT of New Jersey. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise today in support of H.R. 4624, designating the facility of the 
United States Post Office located at 125 Kerr Avenue in Rome City, 
Indiana, as the ``SPC Nicholas Scott Hartge Post Office.''
  It was back on May 14, 2007, that Specialist Hartge met a tragic, yet 
heroic fate when his unit came in contact with enemy forces in Iraq. In 
honor of this fallen American hero, it is fitting and appropriate that 
we recognize the ultimate sacrifice that he made for his country.
  He was raised in Rome City, Indiana. Specialist Hartge was profoundly 
affected by the 9/11 attacks on the United States. It was then that he 
decided that he wanted to, more than anything else, serve his country. 
Before graduating from East Noble High School, he enlisted in the Army. 
Just 1 week after graduation, he left for boot camp at Fort Benning.
  In August 2006, he was deployed to Iraq, where he and his unit 
patrolled the difficult streets of the city. Risking his life every 
day, he served as a driver and a radio/telephone operator. Although he 
was one of the younger members of his unit, he distinguished himself as 
hard working, a good soldier, and the type of person his comrades could 
always count on. He believed in what he was fighting for. He believed 
and felt that they were really helping the people of Iraq.
  While he was only 20 years old, he aspired to do something special 
with his life. And, indeed, when we think about it, he did. He became a 
positive role model for those around him and those he surrounded 
himself with. He once told his fellow soldiers that ``the Army doesn't 
give you values; it develops values that you already had from your 
parents.'' That's so true.
  He is survived now by his parents, a sister and brother--a fellow 
soldier. Yes, this fine young man embodied the values and the passions 
of this great Nation. Sadly, he paid the ultimate sacrifice to preserve 
those freedoms for all of us.
  Mr. Speaker, as I come to the floor and speak about this fallen 
soldier, I'm mindful of the fact that I was here only literally several 
weeks ago, submitting a similar resolution for a young man about the 
equal age, back from our district, from the Fifth Congressional 
District of the State of New Jersey. Likewise, in these circumstances 
we saw the outpouring of support from the people of his community on 
the day that he was returned once and for all to his final resting 
place in his hometown. At that time, members of his fire department, 
the mayor and council and, more importantly, the entire community came 
out and recognized him.
  It was at that point we realized that it's a day to remember these 
fallen soldiers when they do come back. But that day is a fleeting day. 
Even when you talk to the parents of the soldiers at those funerals and 
the services, they don't really even remember it, in some ways. A week 
later, it was such a blur, just a fast passing, and all the commotion 
that went on that day. It was hard to remember who was there.
  So I'm sure, like the speaker on the other side of the aisle and all 
the Members on the other side of the aisle agree, it's for this reason 
we come to the floor today and name the post office for Specialist 
Hartge, because we don't want to just make it a 1-day event. We don't 
want it to be an incident where the community comes out and pays 
respect at the church service and graveside. We don't want it to be a 
time that is in passing. We want to have something there in the 
community that, day in and day out, members of his family, other 
members of the community that he grew up with, his boyhood friends and 
the like, will able to see his name on post office.
  We also want to have something in the community that, days in the 
future, when future generations grow up, kids that he grew up with have 
grown up and gotten married and have children themselves and they come 
back to

[[Page 2891]]

town, that they will see Specialist Hartge's name up there on the post 
office.
  Maybe they will ask their parents, Who was that Specialist? Who was 
that name? Who was that soldier? And there will be people still around 
in the community who say, I remember him when he grew up here. I 
remember what he did for the town. I remember him going through the 
high school in the days there, and the friends that he had there. I 
remember him for the love that he had for his family, his brother and 
his sister, and for everyone else here. I remember him also for the 
sacrifice that he made for this country overseas.
  So in that respect a little bit of him will be remembered for this 
generation and his posterity as well. So I thank the gentleman for 
moving this piece of legislation in a bipartisan manner so that a piece 
of him will be remembered for posterity.
  With that, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. CLAY. I want to thank the gentleman from New Jersey for his kind 
words about Specialist Hartge. Also, Mr. Speaker, again, I encourage my 
friends from both sides of the aisle to join me in supporting H.R. 
4624.
  Mr. SOUDER. Mr. Speaker, SPC Nicholas Scott Hartge served in Charlie 
Company, 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry, Brigade Combat Team, 1st 
Infantry Division in Schweinfurt, Germany.
  Nicholas grew up in the small town of Rome City, Indiana were he was 
deeply involved with his community. He was extremely patriotic and was 
moved by the events of September 11th to do something special. He 
decided to serve his country and enlisted in the army during his senior 
year of high school. His mother, Lori, has often described that on the 
day he came home seeking her permission to join, Nicholas was so 
determined that a freight train could not stop him. Just one week after 
graduation, he left for boot camp at Fort Benning, GA. He could have 
taken many paths, but chose to serve in the infantry.
  In August, 2006, Nicholas and his unit were deployed to Iraq where 
they had the difficult task of patrolling the streets of Adhamiyah. 
Every day his unit risked their lives, constantly under pressure, never 
knowing who their enemy was. Though he was one of the younger members, 
Nicholas quickly earned the respect of his fellow soldiers. They 
described him as having a Midwest innocence, and even teased him good 
naturedly for being such a straight-laced young man. All were impressed 
by his dedication and drive to succeed--noticing how he would practice 
new tasks endlessly until he mastered them.
  He had a goal to attend West Point, and worked with his commanding 
officer to prepare for the process. However, when an opportunity was 
presented to him to join a prep school that could have led to the 
academy, Nicholas decided he could not leave his unit and chose to stay 
and finish his combat tour. On May 14, 2007, his patrol came under 
heavy attack. Nicholas was killed in combat when his humvee hit a 
roadside bomb, while maneuvering under intense fire.
  He always maintained deep roots in his community and was very proud 
of his hometown. When on a two-week leave from Iraq, Nicholas took time 
to visit classes and talk with students at the Rome City Elementary and 
Middle School. In the summer of 2009, the school renamed their annual 
spirit award as the ``Nicholas Scott Hartge Spirit Award.'' Nicholas 
had previously received the honor when he was in 8th grade.
  SPC Nicholas Scott Hartge received a Commendation Medal for 
outstanding achievement in the capture of Abu Hassan, and a bronze star 
for his actions on the day he was killed. He is survived by his mother 
and stepfather, Lori and Dave Abbott of Rome City; father Scott Roger 
Hartge of Delaware, OH; sisters Elise Hartge of Rome City and Jennifer 
(Scott) Wheeler of Fort Wayne; brothers Ryan Abbott of Camp Humphreys, 
Korea and Justin Abbott of Auburn; maternal grandmother Janet Hines of 
Orlando; paternal grandfathers Roger Hartge of New Carlisle, OH, Frank 
Robey of VanWert, OH; grandmother Marjorie Abbott of Fort Wayne and 
many nieces and nephews.
  Renaming the Rome City Post Office in his honor is just a small 
gesture to recognize the contributions of a young man and his family 
who sacrificed so much for us all.
  Mr. CLAY. I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Clay) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the bill, H.R. 4624.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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