[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 10]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 13862]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 IN MEMORIAM AND REMEMBRANCE OF FIRST SERGEANT ACKEEM PAUL GREEN 369TH 
            HARLEM HELLFIGHTERS--HARLEM YOUTH MARINES, INC.

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 11, 2012

  Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, it is with great sadness that I rise today 
to share the news of a devastating loss to Harlem and the greater New 
York City community. We joined with many family members and friends at 
Memorial Baptist Church to celebrate the life of Harlem Youth Marine 
Cadet First Sergeant, Ackeem Paul Green, who passed away Sunday, June 
3, 2012, from a fatal gunshot wound.
  On behalf of our beloved Village of Harlem, my wife Alma and I want 
to extend our most sincere and heartfelt sympathy, support, and love to 
my beloved friend, Col. Gregory E. Collins, and the entire family of 
the First Sergeant Ackeem Paul Green. At the age of 25 he was indeed a 
promising young man continuing the honorable legacy of his father to 
better not only himself but his fellow community youth members as well.
  Great young men like Ackeem are precious gifts that God has made to 
help make this world a better and safer place for all of us. First 
Sergeant Ackeem Paul Green lost his life on the urban battlefield, from 
gun violence right here at home, while enjoying a game of basketball 
with friends on a Sunday afternoon. First Sergeant Green was shot in 
the back by the enemy of illegal guns in the hands of our misguided 
youth. An enemy that has taken the lives of so many of our promising 
young carnations and roses and that has declared war throughout every 
urban neighborhood in the United States of America.
  Every time I hear the news that one of our young sons, daughters, 
fathers, mothers, husbands and wives are struck down by illegal guns in 
the wrong hands of our misguided young people--it pains my heart with 
depression and anger. What makes this very difficult for me is that it 
has taken the life of a young man whose very focus in life was to 
mentor young men and women and provide them with a positive direction 
through the principles and leadership of the Harlem Youth Marines and 
with the values and courage of the United States Marine Corp.
  Since the age of 15 Ackeem has committed countless amounts of time 
and effort to the Harlem Youth Marine Cadets (HYMC). Once Ackeem 
reached the age limit to serve as a cadet, he remained dedicated and 
continued to serve the organization through volunteer work. He took 
time to mentor young cadets and served as a positive and much needed 
role model to many of our youth both in and outside of HYMC.
  The Harlem Youth Marines, Inc. provides instruction in military 
grooming and development to students willing and eager to learn. This 
program has supported the youth in my district for over thirty years 
with an emphasis on youth development through education and discipline. 
They also provide cadets with the opportunity to indulge in basic 
military skill building activities such as rappelling, marksmanship, 
and weapons safety. The children of Harlem have thoroughly benefited 
from this program through the development of body, mind, and spirit. 
Ackeem was a remarkable testament of their success.
  Mr. Speaker, I know that we, the Village of Harlem, will honor 
Ackeem's life by ensuring that his young infant son, Ackeem Paul Green, 
Jr., follows in his father's drill steps and exceeds his dreams and 
aspirations to be all that he can be. May First Sergeant Ackeem Paul 
Green's legacy be far remembered and everlasting, as we pick up the 
flag and defeat this enemy of illegal gun violence that has destroy the 
lives of our children, families and communities. I ask that you and my 
colleagues join me in honoring a great young man and an impassioned 
mentor whose legacy shall be far remembered and everlasting.

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